GOP vice chairman voted illegally nine times: Judge- Brian Pritchard, the first vice chairman of the Georgia Republican Party, has been found guilty of violating Georgia’s election laws by voting illegally nine times while serving probation for felony charges, including check forgery. This ruling was made by Administrative Law Judge Lisa Boggs, who found Pritchard’s explanations for his actions to be neither “credible nor convincing”.
Pritchard’s conviction stems from his time in Pennsylvania in the late 1990s, where he was found guilty of several counts of check forgery. Despite this, he campaigned and was elected to serve as the first Georgia GOP vice chairman in 2023. His actions have been a point of contention, especially given his vocal denial of the 2020 election results, which he claimed were stolen from former President Trump in favor of Joe Biden.
Upon the judge’s ruling, Pritchard was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and $375.14 in investigative costs incurred by the court. Additionally, he was to be publicly reprimanded by the State Election Board, which sought sanctions against him. This decision comes amidst calls from U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene for Pritchard’s immediate resignation, emphasizing the Republican Party’s commitment to election integrity.
Pritchard’s legal troubles extend beyond his voting record. His conviction in Pennsylvania for check forgery led to a three-year probation sentence, which was revoked several times, first in 1999 after he moved to Georgia, then again in 2002 and 2004. A new seven-year probation sentence was issued in 2004, during which period Pritchard signed new voter registration forms and voted in several elections.
Despite his legal challenges, Pritchard has maintained that he did not knowingly vote while serving a felony sentence. He argued that he believed his sentence ended in 1999 and that he was unaware of the ongoing probation. However, the judge found this claim unconvincing, stating that even if Pritchard did not know about his felony sentences, the record before the court demonstrated that he should have known.
This incident highlights the complexities of navigating legal and political challenges, especially within the context of election integrity and the responsibilities of party leadership. It also underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in public office, as well as the consequences of actions that violate election laws.
