Former D.A. In Georgia Charged With Obstruction In Ahmaud Arbery Investigation

A former District Attorney in Georgia was charged on Thursday for violating her oath of office during her tenure and hindering police officers with the investigation into the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, a black man who was shot to death while jogging by three white men who chased him in trucks.

Former District Attorney Jackie Johnson allegedly showed favor to one of the three defendants in the murder, a retired police officer called Greg McMichael, who had previously worked for Johnson as an investigator.

According to the indictment, Johnson also recommended that another county’s prosecutor take the case, without informing that she had previously offered herself to assist that prosecutor in the investigation of Arbery.

The former D.A. is also accused of blocking the arrest of Travis McMichael, the son of Greg McMichael.

The father and son, along with another man, had gunned down Arbery by chasing him down with their truck in February 2020 in Brunswick.

Shortly after the shooting, Greg McMichael called Johnson and left her a voice message, asking her for advice.

“Jackie, this is Greg. Could you please call me as soon as you possibly can? My son and I have been involved in a shooting and I need some advice right away,” according to the call recording handed over as evidence in a hearing.

The case against former D.A. was read to the grand jury in Glynn County, Georgia, by the current Attorney General Chris Carr.

“Our office is committed to ensuring those who are entrusted to serve are carrying out their duties ethically and honestly,” Carr said in a statement Thursday. “We thank the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Glynn County Grand Jury for their hard work. While an indictment was returned today, our file is not closed, and we will continue to investigate in order to pursue justice.”