Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is consulting with the state attorney general to determine the legality of removing three Republican members from the State Election Board (SEB) after Democrats launched a campaign accusing the members of ethics violations. The move has been characterized by some as an “intimidation campaign” aimed at undermining efforts to secure the state’s elections.

The complaints, led by state Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes (D), allege that the GOP board members — Janelle King, Dr. Janice Johnston, and Rick Jeffares — adopted rules that could interfere with fair elections, illegally coordinated with the Georgia Republican Party, and participated in a secret meeting. The complaints were submitted to Gov. Kemp on August 19 and were made public earlier this week.

Kemp’s office issued a statement saying they have referred the matter to the attorney general for further advice, as they are unsure if the governor has the authority to act under the relevant state statute. “Due to uncertainty regarding whether this office has authority to act under Code Section 45-10-4 in response to these complaints, we have sought the Attorney General’s advice regarding the application of the statute to the letters,” the statement reads.

The allegations have sparked a strong backlash from election integrity advocates. Ken Cuccinelli, National Chairman of the Election Transparency Initiative, criticized the complaints as politically motivated. He pointed out that Senator Parkes had the opportunity to address any concerns legislatively but did not, suggesting that the complaints are part of a broader strategy to disrupt the board’s work.

One of the GOP board members, Janelle King, defended the SEB’s actions, stating, “It’s a disservice to all voters when our election process is subpar… If the process is right, you can then trust the outcome.”

As Gov. Kemp awaits legal guidance from the attorney general, the controversy highlights the ongoing battle over election integrity in Georgia and the potential for political interference in the state’s electoral process.