Ahmaud Arbery's mother Wanda Cooper-Jones, center, speaks with supporters after Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley sentenced Greg McMichael, his son, Travis McMichael, and a neighbor, William "Roddie" Bryan, Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, at the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick, Ga.

Ahmaud Arbery's mother Wanda Cooper-Jones, center, speaks with supporters after Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley sentenced Greg McMichael, his son, Travis McMichael, and a neighbor, William "Roddie" Bryan, Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, at the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick, Ga.

Credit: AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton, Pool

The Panel: 

Dr. Amy Steigerwalt — Professor of political science, Georgia State University

Dr. Audrey Haynes — Professor of political science, University of Georgia

Fred Smith — Professor of constitutional law, Emory University

Jim Galloway — Former political columnist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

 

The Breakdown:

1. Two of Ahmaud Arbery's murderers reach pleas to drop federal charges.

  • In February 2020 three white men, Greg and Travis McMichael and their neighbor William "Rodie" Bryant, chased Ahmaud Arbery down, shot and killed him. 
  • All three were convicted of Arbery's murder in a state court in November 2021.
    • The McMichaels were sentenced to life in prison without parole. 
    • Now the pair want to enter a plea deal on federal hate crime charges, in hopes to be transferred to federal prison. A federal judge takes up the matter this afternoon.
  • CBS News reports Arbery's mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, declined the plea deal federal prosecutors presented to her earlier this month.

Dr. Steigerwalt said a plea deal in the case raises broader questions about the goal behind the federal case.

2. Jan. 6 congressional panel subpoenas Georgia GOP chair David Shafer.

  • Back in December of 2020, 16 Georgia Republicans assembled in the state Capitol and falsely certified that Donald Trump won the state’s electoral votes. 
    • Republicans in six other states also had false electors.
  • The Democratic-led House committee investigating the attack on the U.S. Capitol has subpoenaed 14 of those false electors. 

 

3. Justice Breyer to retire from Supreme Court. President Biden looks to keep campaign promise. 

  • Breyer has served on the court for 28 years.
  • Biden made a campaign promise to appoint the first Black woman to The Supreme Court.
  • The President said he will submit his nomination by the end of next month.

Emory Professor Fred Smith says the politicization of the nominees should not overshadow their undeniable accomplishments and credentials. 

Tomorrow on Political Rewind:

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Tamar Hallerman,

Tags: Ahmaud Arbery  Brunswick  Travis McMichael  Jim Galloway  Bill Nigut  babies  Supreme Court  January 6  January 6 Committee  Political Rewind