Jackie Johnson, former district attorney for the Brunswick Judicial Circuit, who was the first prosecutor to receive the case of Ahmaud Arbery, the 25-year-old black man who was shot in 2020 by a father and son in their neighborhood, has been indicted for how she reportedly handled his case.
Arbery's family says that he was out for a jog on that day, but the father told police that he and his son were pursuing a suspect related to a recent string of burglaries, according to the Daily Wire. Arbery was shot and killed on Feb. 23, 2020.
Johnson received the case shortly after the shooting and turned to fellow prosecutor George Barnhill for advice. Johnson had reportedly worked with the father previously in the same office and recused herself due to the connection.
She reportedly handed the case to Barnhill, but did not disclose that she had previously sought his advice in relation to the case. According to the indictment, her actions amounted to "showing favor and affection" to the older suspect.
"Our office is committed to ensuring those who are entrusted to serve are carrying out their duties ethically and honestly," said Georgia state Attorney General Chris Carr in a statement released this week. "We thank the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Glynn County Grand Jury for their hard work. While an indictment was returned today, our file is not closed, and we will continue to investigate in order to pursue justice."
"Although D.A. Johnson did not pull the trigger on the day Ahmaud was murdered, she played a starring role in the coverup," Attorney Benjamin Crump said. "Ahmaud was stopped, gunned down and his killers were allowed to freely walk the streets for months."
Following Johnson recusing herself, Barnhill also recused himself at the request of Arbery's mother. The case is now on its fourth prosecutor.
According to the Daily Wire, Barnhill argued that there wasn't sufficient evidence to make any arrests in his letter of recusal. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Two Glynn County commissioners said that Johnson's office directed police not to arrest Travis and Gregory McMichael.
"The police at the scene went to her, saying they were ready to arrest both of them. These were the police at the scene who had done the investigation," Commissioner Allen Booker told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "She shut them down to protect her friend McMichael." Johnson has reportedly suggested that these allegations are false, but has been indicted also for directing two Glynn County law enforcement officers to not arrest the son.
If convicted, Johnson faces one to five years in prison for violating the oath of public office and up to 12 months for obstructing a law enforcement officer.
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