JAMES Magazine Online: Georgia Congressman Aims to Use Appropriations Process to Defund Trump Prosecutions

Cindy Morley

Thursday, August 31st, 2023

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Republican lawmakers’ reactions to the indictments handed down by a Georgia grand jury in the state’s case against former President Donald Trump and others have ranged from calls for a special session of the legislature to investigate Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, to pressing for the state’s newly created Prosecutorial Oversight Committee to investigate and take action against Willis once it can begin taking complaints in October. Monday, a Georgia Congressman took it a step further.

U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-GA, announced that he intends to use the appropriations process to defund Special Counsel Jack Smith, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and Willis’ prosecutorial authority in order to protect the integrity of the 2024 presidential election.

“Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars have no place funding the radical Left’s nefarious election interference efforts,” said Clyde.

As a new and conservative member of the House Appropriations Committee, Clyde is actively working on two amendments to the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2024 to prohibit the use of federal funding for the prosecution of any major presidential candidate prior to the upcoming presidential election on November 5th, 2024.

One of the amendments would prevent taxpayer dollars from funding federal prosecutions, while a second would prohibit funding for state prosecutions.

“Together, Jack Smith, Alvin Bragg, and Fani Willis intentionally brought four sham indictments against the sitting president’s top political opponent, President Donald J. Trump, as the upcoming 2024 presidential election ramps up,” said Clyde. “These bogus charges are undoubtedly intended to smear and take down President Trump, as well as hinder his ability to campaign effectively. This overt election interference continues to undermine both our Republic and our fair system of justice”

According to Clyde, the House Appropriations Committee is expected to markup the FY24 CJS bill when members return to Washington in September following their summer break.

“Due to my serious concerns about these witch hunt indictments against President Trump, I intend to offer two amendments to prohibit any federal funds from being used in federal or state courts to prosecute major presidential candidates prior to the 2024 election,” said Clyde. “The

American people get to decide who wins the White House — not Deep State actors who have shamelessly attacked Donald Trump since he announced his first bid in 2015. It is imperative that Congress use its power of the purse to protect the integrity of our elections, restore Americans’ faith in our government, and dismantle our nation’s two-tiered system of justice. I’m fully committed to helping lead this effort, and I call on my House Appropriations colleagues to join me in this righteous fight.”