Ahmaud Arbery Supporters Push For Conviction Of First Prosector After Guilty Verdicts
Three white men were found guilty of murder, as well as other counts, on Nov. 24 for the death of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery, all leading to a new focus on the alleged actions of the first prosecutor.
Family and supporters of Arbery are now calling for the conviction of Jackie Johnson, the former Brunswick, Georgia D.A. on charges of prosecutorial misconduct for hindering the progression of Arbery’s trial, according to CNN. She apparently had a working relationship with one of the three convicted men, Gregory McMichael, the report notes.
Nearly an hour after his son Travis had shot Arbery twice point blank with a shotgun on the Sunday afternoon of February 23, 2020, call records show McMichael dialed a number on his cell phone and left a voicemail, the news outlet writes.
“Jackie, this is Greg,” he said in a voicemail message, the report says. “Could you call me as soon as you possibly can… My (inaudible) and I have been involved in a shooting and I need some advice right away.”
This evidence was presented in the pre-trial hearing. The 39-second call led Arbery’s family to claim that it was the reason no arrests were made for 74 days and that the call to the prosecutor almost prevented a murder trial.
McMichael worked as an investigator in Johnson’s Brunswick office until his 2019 retirement.
Johnson was voted out of office and indicted on two counts of oath violation and hindrance of law enforcement’s investigation.
Officers with the Glynn County PD investigating the murder allegedly reached out to Johnson’s office for advice on how to handle the situation as well.
Johnson’s alleged response led to her two-count indictment. The Sept. 2nd indictment stated she obstructed law enforcement “by directing that Travis McMichael should not be placed under arrest, contrary to laws of said state.”
The indictment notes that she removed herself from the case because of her connection to McMichaels. However, she led the investigation to Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney George Barnhill. She allegedly failed to disclose to Georgia Attorney General’s Office she had discussed the case with Barnhill.
Barnhill sent a letter to Glynn County that the chase by the three men was “perfectly legal” under state law, leading to no arrests.
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