Political Rewind: Atlanta City Council approves training center; Updates in Fulton election probe

Caption

Protesters gathered, lined up and created banners in front of Atlanta City Hall on June 5, 2023, as Atlanta City Council holds a period of public comment and votes on funding for the proposed police training facility.

Credit: Amanda Andrews / GPB News

The panel

Tamar Hallerman, @TamarHallerman, senior reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Peter Biello, @PeterBiello, host, All Things Considered, GPB News

Bernard Fraga, @blfraga, professor of political science, Emory University

Jim Galloway, @JimJournalist, former political columnist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The breakdown

1. Atlanta's city council approved funding for a controversial police training center.

• After a marathon 14 hours of scathing public comment, the Atlanta City Council voted to approve what could be nearly $67 million for the public training center.
• Controversies around the site have built since the site's proposal. In January, activist Manuel Teran, or Tortuguita, was killed by Georgia State Patrol officers, who allege they were fired on first.
  • Dozens of individuals have been arrested and charged with domestic terrorism related to arson on construction vehicles in March.
• Last week, three organizers with the Atlanta Solidarity Fund were charged with financial crimes related to their fundraising activity on bail expenses and protests. In a bond hearing for the three, the judge seemed to doubt the strength of the state's case.

2. The Washington Post reports Fulton DA's election probe focuses on nationwide activities.

• Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis will likely use Georgia's RICO law against Donald Trump and his associates to prosecute crimes related to the 2020 election.
• Two firms outside of Georgia allegedly sought out voter fraud, and when they didn't find it, buried their findings.
• Willis could announce her indictments in just a few months.

3. Three more Republicans enter the ring ahead of 2024.

• Ron DeSantis, Mike Pence, and Chris Christie are all expected to formally announce their candidacy for the White House shortly. All three are trailing well behind Trump.
• While Christie's bid may be a long shot, DeSantis and Pence both have angles they could pursue.
  • Pence was closely affiliated with the Trump administration's agenda, but has come under attack by his former executive.
  • DeSantis has polled behind Trump for months, with the gap between the two only widening.

Wednesday on Political Rewind: The Atlanta Journal Constitution's Greg Bluestein joins the panel.