There are basically an unlimited number of reasons why Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene should not be allowed to serve in Congress. They include but are not limited to: speaking at an event put on by white nationalists, her enthusiasm for deranged conspiracy theories, her fondness for harassing school-shooting survivors, and her endorsement of calls to execute people like Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama. Unfortunately, GOP House leader Kevin McCarthy has made it clear that such behavior is permissible and doesn’t warrant expulsion, let alone mild punishment. And now, a Georgia judge has said he’s fine with Greene’s actions, including her alleged role in the January 6 insurrection.
On Friday, Georgia state judge Charles Beaudrot wrote in a 19-page recommendation that the congresswoman should not be disqualified for running for reelection, after members of her district tried to have her removed from the ballot for allegedly helping facilitate the Capitol riot that left five people dead. According to Beaudrot, the “challengers have produced insufficient evidence to show that Rep. Greene ‘engaged’ in that insurrection after she took the oath of office on January 3, 2021.” The final say will come from Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, though CNN notes that it’s “highly unlikely” the Republican official would overrule the judge. If he doesn’t, the group that sued can appeal the decision.
The recommendation comes two weeks after Greene answered questions during an all-day hearing, at which she appeared to have come down with an acute, and extremely convenient, case of selective amnesia. Among the many things the representative claimed she couldn’t “recall” were discussions with the White House about the transfer of power, who she spoke to in the days leading up to January 6, and whether or not she’d advocated for Donald Trump to use martial law to stop Joe Biden from becoming president. (While Greene may not remember that last one, the January 6 committee has obtained text messages that said she did.)
In April, a similar attempt to throw Representative Madison Cawthorn off the ballot was rejected (though it appears his party is trying other avenues to rid itself of him).
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