They say timing is everything and it appears the attorney who is representing former Atlanta cop Garrett Rolfe might be trying to tilt the scales of justice in his client’s favor.
FOLLOWING THE MONEY
On June 30th, attorney Noah Pines who also was a former Dekalb County prosecutor donated $1000.00 to Fulton County DA candidate Fani Willis just two weeks after his client was charged with killing Rayshard Brooks in the parking lot of a Wendy’s restaurant in Atlanta. The discovery of the generous donation came to light when our investigative team researched the donations received by Ms. Willis after it was learned that she failed to disclose that she had received donations from Atlanta police officers in excess of $12,000.00. District attorney candidate Fani Willis & Attorney Noah Pines.
Pines accused Howard of violating ethics rules that bar him from making “extrajudicial comments that have a substantial likelihood of heightening public condemnation of the accused.” Pines also accused Howard of acting rashly by announcing charges before the Georgia Bureau of Investigation completed its investigation. Being that attorney Pine was a former district attorney himself, he is fully aware that the DA’s office doesn’t have to wait for the conclusion of a GBI investigation since the office is independent of other agencies such as the GBI. What ethics were at play when Mr. Pines made a sizable donation to Fani Willis’s campaign? While it is not uncommon for lawyers to support other lawyers campaigns, the timing of Mr. Pines supporting Ms. Willis raises eyebrows. Amended disclosure report filed by district attorney candidate Fani Willis shows contribution made by attorney Noah Pine who represents Garrett Rolfe who is charged with killing Rayshard Brooks
Mr. Howard and Ms. Willis are in a run-off election on August 11, but for whatever reason, Rolfe’s attorney wasn’t a supporter of Willis until after his client was charged with felony murder. Is attorney Pine banking on Mr. Howard losing the race? Does he believe his client will have a better chance with Ms. Willis if she miraculously wins the election?
PAUL HOWARD RECEIVES A UNLIKELY ENDORSEMENT
Christian Wise Smith with District Attorney Paul Howard | Credit: Dennis Byron
Former challenger Christian Wise Smith, who was running for the same seat has also announced that he intends to support Mr. Howard’s bid for re-election and he cites the reason that he could not support Ms. Willis in a scathing rebuke of her during a recent interview with rapper/actor and podcast host Clifford ‘Tip” Harris on the show expediTiously.
Mr. Howard’s opponent Fani Willis has aggressively engaged in smear tactics during her campaign towards her former boss accusing him of only charging Garrett Rolfe in the death of Rayshard Brooks for political reasons. The fact is that Howard has prosecuted more bad cops in Georgia than any other district attorney around the nation in his 20 plus years in office.
We asked Mr. Howard in a exclusive interview whether or not has he ever remembered a police union supporting the prosecution of police since he’s has been a DA and he stated that he has never and that he has not ever received the endorsement of a police union since he’s been in office.
DA Paul Howard at press conference announcing charges against Garrett Rolfe being filed | Credit: Dennis Byron
Howard has charged Garrett Rolfe with felony murder, Aggravated Assault, violation of Oath of Office and other related charges. Mr. Howard has also charged former APD cop Devin Brosnan with Aggravated Assault and violation of oath of office. A Fulton county judge granted Rolfe a $500,00.00 secured bond and Devin Brosnan was granted a $50,00.00 signature bond, both have since been released from jail.
This is a developing story.
