Georgia Republicans reassign GOP lawmakers who backed Trump’s election fraud allegations

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Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan on Tuesday changed the remit of the state Senate committee to Senators Matt Brass, Brandon Beach and Burt Jones, all of whom joined President Donald Trump’s efforts to undermine the results in Georgia.

Beach was stripped of his transport committee chair and Jones was removed as chairman of the insurance and labor committee. Brass has been reassigned to the Banking and Financial Institutions Committee, instead of remaining as the head of the politically influential Reallocation and Redistribution Committee, according to Macy McFall, deputy chief of staff and director of communications in Duncan’s office.

The demotion was expected by Jones, who told CNN that “he had a difference of opinion” with Duncan, who strongly rebutted allegations of voter fraud in Peach State.

“It didn’t bother me, other than it was an effort to try and embarrass us and it really bothers me,” Jones said Thursday. “It was really unnecessary and quite petty.”

He noted that this was the first time since his first year in office in 2013 that he did not hold the presidency. Jones also said he and the other two senators were not looking to overturn the election results, but wanted a further investigation into potential problems with the state’s voting process.

“We weren’t trying to overturn an election,” he told CNN. “You have to have evidence to overturn an election, but to have evidence you have to investigate things.”

He added that his goal was to “call out” Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, who has consistently rejected Trump’s election fraud allegations.

Brass and Beach did not immediately respond to CNN’s requests for comment.

Republicans hold a majority in the Georgia Senate, with more than 30 of the 56 total seats in the chamber.

Jones, along with Beach, applauded Texas’ federal lawsuit to overturn President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in major battlefield states, including Georgia. Lawmakers at the time alleged “faults, frauds and irregularities throughout the voting process.” The lawsuit which was ultimately dismissed.

“We are the trustees of the people, and we must guarantee their vote against all those, both foreigners and nationals, who defraud them of their collective decision at the polls,” the December statement read.

McFall said the new state Senate committee assignments are effective immediately.

“These committee chairs are uniquely qualified to develop real and lasting solutions to build a better Georgia,” Duncan said in a statement Tuesday. “The Senate will continue to place diligent committee work and sound public policy as a priority, and I look forward to working closely with each of our chairs and their committee members as we strive to pass policies that advance both the lives and livelihoods of all Georgians. . “

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