Immunity for electors

At least eight Georgians had accepted immunity deals as of early May amid investigations into their alleged role as fake electors during the 2020 election. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has scrutinized 16 Georgia electors as part of a broader investigation into 2020 election interference.

The 538 electors in the Electoral College meet in their respective statehouses following a national election and cast ballots for whomever their state’s voters choose. Party leaders pick current or former lawmakers, activists, and party officials to serve in this ceremonial capacity. In 2020, the Donald Trump campaign asked Trump loyalists in seven states to serve as electors even if the election was called for Joe Biden.

Biden won Georgia by less than 1 percentage point, so Trump’s 16 electors, attesting themselves to be “duly elected and qualified,” sent their certification to the National Archives. The agency ignored the Republican documents. Georgia Republican Party Chairman David Shafer, one of the fake electors, argues the Trump campaign team tricked them into thinking sending the certificates was still legal.

It’s unclear who accepted immunity deals, but such arrangements typically allow witnesses to give court testimony without fear their words will be used against them, or to avoid prosecution altogether.

Willis, who is also investigating Trump and other Republican allies, plans to announce election-related charges between July and September.

Gen. Charles Quinton Brown Jr. Monika Skolimowska/Picture-Alliance/DPA/AP

Air force general eyed for top military post

President Joe Biden is expected to announce Gen. Charles Quinton “CQ” Brown Jr. as his pick to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. If confirmed by the Senate, Brown, 60, would replace current chairman Mark Milley and be the second African American to hold the most senior ranking position of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The Senate in 2020 unanimously confirmed Brown, a four-star general, as the chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force. In this role, he advises Biden, the defense secretary, and the National Security Council. Over the course of his career, Brown has logged more than 2,900 flight hours, 130 in combat. His assignments include commanding the Pacific Air Forces and serving as deputy commander of CENTCOM. In 2020, Time named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world. —C.L.