Some defendants hide and wait for trial but Toni Johnson is not one of those defendants. The Hinds County Election Commissioner went after State Auditor Shad White and two special prosecutors as she filed motions to disqualify them from her case last week.
A Hinds County grand jury indicted Johnson on 26 counts of conspiracy to commit bribery (2), conspiracy to defraud the state of Mississippi (7), false representation to defraud the government (4), fraudulently obtaining public funds (6), bribery (5), and embezzlement (2) on February 17, 2022. The case is assigned to Special Circuit Judge Jess Dickinson. The grand jury also indicted Sudie Jones, Undrae Kidd, Lisa Kidd, and Cedric Cornelius for charges related to the case. The indictments focus on the alleged misuse of $1.9 in grants from Center for Technology and Civic Life. The organization is a non-profit company established by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
Commissioner Johnson filed a motion to disqualify State Auditor Shad White from her case. The motion states his investigators arrested her at her home "with the media in tow" on February 18, 2022. The defendant accused the Statue Auditor of using the arrests for fund-raising purposes:
Instead, on February 27, 2022, White sent his supporters an email and used the arrests of Johnson, Cedric Cornelius and Sudie Jones to solicit donations for his political action committee: “Friends of Shad White. Exhibit 2. White stated in part: “[o]ur arrests show the dangers of private funding of elections.
More money means more risk of fraud. But the arrests also how we are committed to putting a stop to this fraud. I know a lot of people have lost faith in government right now, especially in DC. What we’re doing in the Auditor’s office can help restore that faith-that the government can work for the people again. We do that by showing folks that those in government who steal face serious consequences.” Exhibit 2.3. White signed the document and wrote” “P.S. Want to lend a helping hand? Forward this email to a friend. Tell them to visit www.shadwhite.com and sign up to receive more emails like this, so they can stay informed on how their tax dollars are spent. DONATE TODAY.” Exhibit 2. Online donors were given the option of making donations of $25.00, $50.00, $100.00...
Johnson redirected her fire towards the District Attorney. District Attorney Jody Owens represented the state at the defendant's arraignment on March 8. Warren County Assistant District Attorneys Richard Smith, Jr. and Michael Warren entered appearances to represent the prosecution on April 8. Commissioner Johnson took strong exception to the addition of the foreign prosecutors in a motion to disqualify the special prosecutors:
After Richard E. Smith, Jr. and Michael Warren entered their appearances in Johnson’s case, Johnson’s counsel has not communicated with the Hinds County District Attorney’s office about this matter. On April 20, 2022, Michael Warren sent this Court a proposed scheduling order. Owens was not copied on the email Michael Warrant sent on April 20, 2022. On May 12, 2022, Michael Warren sent undersigned counsel a plea offer for Johnson on Warren County District Attorney’s stationery. Richard E. Smith, Jr. was copied on the email. Owens was not copied on the May 12, 2022, email sent to undersigned counsel. According to Michael Warren, the offer expired 21 days from the May 12, 2022 email.
To date, there is no evidence that Attorney General Lynn Fitch is assisting Owens in Johnson’s prosecution and/or has appointed Richard E. Smith, Jr. and Michael Warren as special prosecutors. Similarly, Owens has not filed a motion asking this Court to appoint Richard E. Smith, Jr. and Michael Warren as special prosecutors in Johnson’s case.
The motion argues such substitutions must be approved by the Court but no such approval took place because no request was ever submitted to the Court. It also claims the District Attorney never asked the Attorney General to appoint the special prosecutors. Thus, the Court should terminate Smith and Warren's representation of Hinds County.
Attorney Lisa Ross represents Johnson.
Governor Tate Reeves signed a bill this year that bans such donations to Election Commissions in Mississippi.
Kingfish note: Since Ms. Fitch became Attorney General, the A.G.'s office has gotten out of the prosecuting business. It's been a rather sore point with District Attorneys around the state as they are forced to rely on each other to handle conflicts of interest instead of referring such cases to the A.G.'s office as they did for decades.
36 comments:
KF, I don't think the AG's Office is completely out of the prosecution business. I think the AG's office is in the selective prosecution business. And it appears that Mizz Fitch doesn't want anything to do with this election commissioner fiasco.
Why be a misogynist, Kingfish?
AG Fitch was elected by the people of the State of Mississippi. She can run her agency however she see’s fit until the MSGOP promotes her.
Lynn Fitch has all but gotten out of the business of being the AG. Aside from what is strictly required, and things that will get her political attention, she ain't interested in work.
This case will be picked up by the Feds. Wire fraud is federal..
I think Lynn is consumed trying to secure an inheritance
Didn't Lynn's campaign signs say she was "for Mississippi". Doesn't seem that is the case.
Ditto @8:40.
One has to admire efforts of futility no matter how futile!
Lisa will get what they want.
Why be a misogynist, Kingfish?
Where is the misogyny? Be specific.
Fitch is out of the prosecution business and a lot of other business because she fired or ran off the attorneys who were capable of handling that business. She hired very young lawyers with virtually no experience who had no one to train them. The AGs office is merely a perch for Fitch to land on until she runs for governor. The knee-slapper is that she is going to claim credit for getting Roe overruled, if it is overruled, when in fact she had nothing to do with that other than holding a pep rally outside the Supreme Court and then flouncing into the courtroom. She is the Chauncey Gardner of Mississippi politics.
I hope the media broadcast this trial so I can watch it on my large screen TV.
BUT she isn't seeking a change of venue because she's busy working a concerted PR effort to nullify her peers in HindsCo.
Her only defense is a good offense.
>The case is assigned to Special Circuit Judge Jess Dickinson.
Oh boy can't wait to see how he fucks this one up.
Being intellectually disabled is serious. Leave Lynn alone
A.G. Finch beat Jennifer Riley- Collins and
sources say Jennifer Riley-Collins played a big roll in the misuse of these funds, could easily be why Credell Calhoun fired her, or lead to her resigning. Could you imagine Jennifer Riley-Collins being the A.G. and Toni Johnson one of her investigators.
Remember folks she has done nothing!
Abortion bill and human trafficking bill that she has run with are all Philip Gunn’s!
y’all voted for our current AG
@10:50 - you betcha yo ass we did. What would you rather have, Jennifer Collins? yeah, she did a stellar job as Hinds Co administrator. Which led to the clown show they have now.
Lynn Fitch has the Sarah Palin advantage: She's sexy. It's almost that simple. She's of a certain age, but she's kept her figure and her smile. She also married well ($$$), she has an adequate intelligence, and she is competitive. Those are the positives.
The big negative: She embodies the Peter Principle. She has risen beyond her highest level of competence. She probably rose beyond it years ago, but she's sexy. Could she actually go to court and successfully prosecute someone like Toni Johnson? Not a chance. Let us bow our heads and thank the gods for Jody Owens. Toni is sexy, but she's mostly crooked and greedy.
Hug your air conditioners, y'all.
What do Toni Johnson and Courtney Rainey Noth have in common. Both connected to Lisa Ross and both will do 10 - 15 years.
Jim Hood was a good Attorney General and ran a functional office. The current AG's office would rank last in the United States.
So apparently everyone on this thread missed the point of the post. This has nothing to do with AG Fitch and everything to do with Shad White exploiting these arrests for political gain. Just curious whit no one is talking about the issue!
1:48
Looking old these days, frail even
This isn't about Fitch!! This is about DA Owens who didn't recuse himself from the case. That's the BIG problem. WHY didn't he follow the law in the process
Do we have a case of something very rare? A thief who saved some of the stolen money to fund the eventual criminal defense?
@7:51 which politician doesn't exploit their job performance for political gain?
Toni Johnson run a reelection add on countywide computers. Let me say again, Toni Johnson ran a reelection add on county computers and every county employee saw it ! what law was that she broke? There you go Kingfish. A little something to look into.
This case is a lot of he say she say. No evidence and everybody is passing the buck. When does a DA of a COUNTY represent the entire STATE of Mississippi in cases. We’re officially doomed unless we can return integrity to our states future. Some ppl will do anything they get $$ for SMH. There’s no way this is going to be a fair trial SMH
10:32 😂TONI Johnson broke election laws and there is proof on the county computers
Where is Lynn???? Probably a good time for a welfare check. Make sure Michelle brought her her food and water for the day
Toni Johnson stole from J.S.U. and 100 Black Men and Hinds County.
She alleged tried to have JSU president invoked as well, with taping commercials for her with that grant money. But it didn't work. Jennifer Riley-Collins probably is the RAT! It will all come out.
I wonder will Toni wear her EYE LASHES in prison, along with her LONG BRAIDS.
Jennifer Riley-Collins retired from the military after 32 years with the rank of colonel. Instead of accusing her of stealing money, we should be thanking her for her service so that we can have the freedom to go on this blog to whine and complain. Also, if I needed an attorney, Lisa Ross would be the one I would call because she is scary good.
She’s actually wearing her swing Bob hair that you love sooo much! Y’all are too infatuated with Toni! Stop being miserable & go worry abt Farve & Bryant. Bc we still waiting on RECEIPTS that you don’t have. Stop being quick to write checks in the comment section that you can’t cash! Y’all seem desperate. SMH!
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