Georgia Governor Brian Kemp held a press conference in Savannah at 4 p.m. on Friday in response to the lawsuit.
ATLANTA – Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Friday morning that the US government would sue the state of Georgia over its new electoral law.
Garland explained the scope of the lawsuit, arguing that law, SB 202, “was enacted with the aim of denying or restricting the voting rights of black Georgians based on race or color”.
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The United States v Georgia government lawsuit targets various elements of the law, including restricting access to postal voting, more restrictive rules on the use of mailboxes, and restrictions on certain third party activities, including distributing food and water to voters on polling lines .
Justice Department attorney Kristen Clarke said the “careful evaluation of facts and laws by the US Department of Justice shows that Georgia’s Voting Act violates Section 2 of the Suffrage Act.”
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“These legislative moves came at a time when Georgia’s black population was growing and after a historic election that saw record turnouts across the state, particularly postal voting that black voters are now more likely to use than white voters,” said Clarke said. “The regulations we are questioning reduce postal voting at every step of the process, pushing more black voters to face-to-face voting, which is more likely than white voters to face long lines … not in a vacuum. They come immediately after a successful postal vote in the 2020 election cycle, especially with black voters. “
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp held a press conference in Savannah at 4 p.m. on Friday in response to the lawsuit.
“Let me make it clear, the DOJ lawsuit announced here today is legally and constitutionally completely wrong. Your mistakes and faceless accusations are honestly disgusting, but I can’t say I’m surprised, ”he said.
“That’s the truth, SB202 ensures that the Georgia elections are safe, accessible, and fair. It extends access to early elections, ensures that mailboxes in every county are available and secured around the clock, ”continued Governor Kemp. “It implements a postal voter ID, which almost every poll shows that an overwhelming majority of Americans have the support.”
Governor Kemp also said at the conference that he will not give in.
The previous Friday, Governor Kemp tweeted his response to the lawsuit, calling it “lies and misinformation”.
This lawsuit is born out of the lies and misinformation that the Biden government pushed against Georgia’s electoral integrity law from the start. Joe Biden, Stacey Abrams and their allies tried to force an unconstitutional election campaign through Congress – and failed.
– Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) June 25, 2021
“This lawsuit is born out of the lies and misinformation that the Biden administration urged against Georgia’s Election Integrity Act from the outset. Joe Biden, Stacey Abrams and their allies tried to force an unconstitutional seizure of power by Congress through elections – and they failed, “the governor said in a statement. “Now they are arming the US Department of Justice to implement their left-wing extremist agenda, which undermines electoral integrity and strengthens the supremacy of the federal government in our democracy.”
“As Secretary of State, I fought the Obama Justice Department twice to protect the security of our elections – and won. I look forward to going three on three to make sure Georgia is easy to vote and cheat, ”added Kemp.
Sec. Brad Raffensperger, also named in the lawsuit, said in a statement, “I’m looking forward to meeting and beating you in court.”
“The Biden administration continues to enforce Stacey Abrams’ commandments and spread more lies about Georgia’s electoral law,” Raffensperger said. “Your lies have already cost Georgia $ 100 million and have given the president four pinocchios. It’s no surprise they would operationalize their lies with the full force of the federal government. “
Abrams, the state’s leading Democrat, said that in the Justice Department “Americans have an ally in voting rights – regardless of race, party, or zip code” and thanked DoJ officials for “defending Georgians against this attack on our freedom of choice “.
The governor signed the bill in March, which introduces a series of provisions that require ID for postal voting, reduce access to drop-drop boxes, and limit the distribution of food and water to those on the polling lines, as well as one day for the add early voting.
It was the focus of heavy criticism from the Democrats and led to calls for boycotts and the relocation of the all-star game of Major League Baseball from Atlanta.
Garland, the attorney general, said Georgia had a record voter turnout in 2020 and that it was “a cause for celebration”.
“But then in March 2021, Georgia legislators passed SB 202. Many of the provisions of this law make it difficult for people to vote,” Garland said. “The complaint alleges that the state imposed these restrictions in order to deny or abbreviate the right to vote based on race or skin color.”
