Georgia election probe report to remain secret for now

(24 Jan 2023) SHOTLIST
RESTRICTION SUMMARY
++SOUNDBITES SEPERATED BY BLACKS FRAMES++
POOL
Atlanta - 24 January 2023
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Wakeford, Fulton County Attorney:
"Ongoing criminal investigations have a different a different understanding as far as court records are concerned in this state. And in fact, records that are part of an ongoing criminal investigation are not subject to public scrutiny. When the district attorney requested that the special purpose grand jury engage in this investigation and provide recommendations if they saw fit, it was as part of an at that time and at this time ongoing criminal investigation."
++BLACK FRAMES++
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Wakeford, Fulton County Attorney:
"There has been no opportunity whatsoever for this office to incorporate anything in the document into an ongoing investigation in a meaningful way and to make the ultimate decision that only the district attorney is empowered to make, which is either there will be the investigation is over and no charges will be pursued or the investigation is over and charges will be pursued."
++BLACK FRAMES++
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Clyde, Attorney:
"I respect the district attorney's statement about the protection of other people, and that is an admirable statement for a district, any district attorney to make. But other people, particularly the other people that were involved in this grand jury, are represented by their own counsel. This hearing took place was widely publicized. Their counsel are here. At the risk of prejudice to them is actually much less than it is with many, many documents that are disclosed during the judicial process.
++BLACK FRAMES++
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Clyde, Attorney:
"What the state is pointing to is simply not the kind of information that justifies sealing. And and there hasn't been any suggestion, any evidence, any presentation that really makes a compelling demonstration that there should be a sealing in this case."
++BLACK FRAMES++
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Clyde, Attorney:
"There is genuine public interest in what these grand jurors found after they sifted the evidence, after they heard from all the witnesses and its interest, not just because of the role they played on the grand jury, but also because they are community citizens. And speaking to these issues from that vantage point as well. And so that's also important and part of the public interest."
++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++

STORYLINE:
A report by a special grand jury in Georgia investigating possible interference in the 2020 election will remain secret for now while a judge considers its release.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney heard arguments Tuesday from prosecutors who argued against immediately releasing the report and a coalition of media organizations who argued it should be made public.
He said he would consider their arguments and would reach out to both parties with any questions before making a final decision.
The special grand jury was investigating whether then-President Donald Trump and his allies broke the law by seeking to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia.
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