This is bad news for Trump.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R) has been informed that he is under investigation by the federal special counsel in relation to the inquiry into former President Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election, as confirmed by Kemp’s office on Friday.
The special counsel, Jack Smith, is also looking into the actions of former Arizona Governor Doug Ducey (R) in connection with the same investigation, according to reports from CNN.
According to The Hill, Smith’s investigation revolves around Trump’s attempts to overturn the election and his involvement in the January 6 insurrection. He officially notified Trump of his status as the target of the probe through a target letter issued on a Sunday.
Interestingly, Smith’s federal investigation seems to overlap with the ongoing investigation conducted by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis in Georgia, who is looking into similar matters.
While Kemp’s office confirmed that he was contacted by Smith, they refrained from providing further details as reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
In Arizona, Smith’s probe has focused on lawsuits filed by the Trump campaign, alleging election fraud in the state. The special counsel had previously subpoenaed the Arizona Secretary of State’s office and state lawmakers as part of his investigation.
One significant aspect of the investigation involves Trump’s attempts to pressure Ducey into overturning Arizona’s election results, despite President Biden’s victory, marking the first time the state supported a Democratic presidential candidate since 1996.
Meanwhile, Willis’ investigation in Fulton County centers on a phone call Trump made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger after the 2020 election, during which he urged him to “find” enough votes to overturn the election results. A grand jury has been empaneled for this case, and charges are expected to be filed by September 1.
Smith and his team have already questioned Raffensperger in the course of their investigation.
Governor Kemp, who had previously shown support for Trump, refrained from endorsing the former president’s claims of election irregularities in Georgia. Both Kemp and Raffensperger resisted Trump’s requests to alter the 2020 election results in the state.
During the 2022 primary, Trump endorsed Kemp’s opponent, but Kemp emerged victorious and was reelected.