The State Election Board, mostly comprised of Republicans, is facing criticism for their approval of new election rules. The recent changes have prompted ethics complaints, but Georgia’s Attorney General clarified that the governor is not obligated to investigate the board members based on these complaints. The controversy arose after the board, consisting of five members, passed new rules allowing county election boards to request additional information before certifying election results. The Democratic Party of Georgia and the Democratic National Committee have filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of these rules.
In response to the complaints filed against three Republican board members, Governor Brian Kemp sought clarification from Attorney General Chris Carr on the matter. Despite the calls for hearings on the members’ removal, Carr’s opinion did not address the governor’s authority but focused on the necessity of holding a hearing.
The complaints, deemed as “formal” under Georgia law, were filed by Democratic officials, including state Senator Nabilah Islam Parkes and former Fulton County Board of Elections Chair Cathy Woolard. However, Carr stated that these complaints did not meet the criteria for formal charges, which require due process notice to the accused official.
Former President Donald Trump commended the board members for their actions, while Governor Kemp, who had a strained relationship with Trump post-2020 election, has recently shown support for the former president. The evolving dynamics between Kemp and Trump have been under scrutiny, with both parties expressing mutual admiration in recent interactions. Please rephrase this sentence.
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