Brian Pritchard, the first vice chairman of the Georgia Republican Party, has been convicted of illegally voting nine times while on felony probation. The ruling was made by a judge on Wednesday, following an investigation into Pritchard’s actions. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Pritchard violated Georgia election law by voting while serving a felony probation sentence, which is prohibited in the state.
Pritchard’s legal troubles stem from a previous conviction in Pennsylvania for check forgery charges. He was sentenced to three years of felony probation starting in 1996, but his probation was revoked multiple times, first in 1999 after he relocated to Georgia, and again in 2002 and 2004. In 2004, a new seven-year probation sentence was issued. Despite being on probation, Pritchard signed new voter registration forms and participated in several elections.
During the court proceedings, Pritchard claimed that he believed his sentence had ended in 1999, a statement he had previously made on his website, FetchYourNews.com, in 2022. He denied knowingly voting while serving a felony sentence. On his website and conservative talk show, fyntv.com, Pritchard frequently criticized President Joe Biden and questioned the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election.
As a result of the conviction, Pritchard has been ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and will be publicly reprimanded by the Georgia State Election Board. This outcome may have implications for Pritchard’s political career in Georgia state politics. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has called for Pritchard’s immediate resignation or removal from office.
1 Response
While it is concerning that Brian Pritchard, a high-ranking member of the Georgia Republican Party, has been convicted of illegally voting nine times while on felony probation, it is important to remember that this is an isolated incident. It is unfair to use this case to generalize and make assumptions about the entire Republican Party or its members.
Political parties are made up of diverse individuals with varying beliefs and values. Just as there are individuals within the Republican Party who may engage in illegal activities, there are also individuals