Former Braunschweig prosecutor Jackie Johnson was charged in September with obstruction of justice in the Ahmaud Arbery case and faces five years in prison
A former Georgia prosecutor faces five years in prison for allegedly helping protect Gregory McMichael after his son fatally shot and killed 25-year-old black jogger Ahmaud Arbery.
A grand jury on Thursday indicted former Braunschweig public prosecutor Jackie Johnson of violating her oath of office and obstructing prosecution after the fatal shots in February 2020.
The indictment, first filed in September, claims that after Greg McMichael fatally shot his son Travis Arbery, he called Johnson’s cell phone – after working in her office as an investigator until he retired in 2019 – and said, “Jackie, that is “Gregor. You could call me asap.
‘My [inaudible] and I was involved in a shootout and I need advice right away, ”he continued in the 39-second conversation.
Glynn County police officers investigating the murder also reportedly called Johnson for advice on what to do next, according to CNN, and Johnson reportedly “knowingly and willfully ordered that Travis McMichael not arrest, contrary to the laws of” should become the state. ‘
The indictment goes on to claim that Johnson violated her oath of office “by showing favor and affection to Greg McMichael during the investigation into Ahmaud Arbery’s death”.
If convicted by a jury, she faces five years imprisonment.
Gregory McMichael, center, was convicted last week of the fatal shooting at Ahmaud Arbery. He had worked as an investigator for Johnson until he retired in 2019
Arbery, 25, was jogging around McMichael’s neighborhood when they followed him, which ultimately led to his death
According to the indictment passed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation on Sept. 2, Johnson directed the investigation into nearby Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney George Barnhill after she pulled out of the case due to her connections with McMichael.
She then recommended to the Georgia Attorney General that Barnhill take the case, allegedly without disclosing that she had already discussed the case with Barnhill, failing to “treat Ahmaud Arbery and his family fairly and with dignity.”
Barnhill then sent a letter to the Glynn County Police Department stating that the persecution of Arbery by three armed men in pickup trucks was, according to his legal opinion, “perfectly legal under Georgia law.”
He concluded, “We see no reason for any of the three parties to be arrested.”
Arbery’s family claim they delayed the arrests of Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael and William Bryan Jr. by 74 days.
You were all convicted of the Arbery murder last week.
Supporters of Arbery’s family also believe the investigation could have ended had it not been for William Bryan Jr.’s video of the incident going viral in May 2020.
Gregory’s son Travis (left) fatally shot Ahmaud Arbery while out jogging in 2020
Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney George Barnhill reportedly wrote after the shooting that the three men who chased Arbery jogging and shot him had not broken Georgia state law
In the outrage, CNN reports, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp ran the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and they investigated allegations of wrongdoing by the prosecutor before delivering their indictments.
Johnson stood at the Glynn County Jail on Sept. 8, reports CNN, and she was free in less than an hour without paying bail.
Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, applauded the prosecution in early September, saying Johnson “didn’t pull the trigger, but she needs to be held accountable just like the three guys who actually did Ahmaud to.”
However, Johnson has denied any wrongdoing and instead told her constituents that she was falsely accused.
“This case is a terrible tragedy for the community,” she said in an October debate to keep her seat as a DA. “It’s a tragedy for the family.
“I’m sorry how things happened. I’m sorry a lie started and I couldn’t turn it back. ‘
She was voted out of office in November.
The Georgia attorney general said the investigation is ongoing.
