Members of Georgia’s congressional delegation are asking for federal involvement in the investigation of Ahmaud Arbery’s Feb. 23 shooting death.
In a letter sent Wednesday, elected leaders from both sides of the political aisle urged both U.S. Attorney General William Barr and Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband to have federal investigators assist the GBI with the investigation. The letter was signed by 14 U.S. representatives, including John Lewis, Sanford Bishop, Lucy McBath, Doug Collins and Tom Graves.
Buddy Carter, Drew Ferguson, Hank Johnson, Rob Woodall, Austin Scott, Jody Hice, Barry Loudermilk, Rick Allen and David Scott also signed the letter.
» COMPLETE COVERAGE: The latest on the Ahmaud Arbery case
“This devastating case and alarming video brought a national spotlight to our beloved home state,” the letter reads. “For these reasons no stone should be left unturned in ensuring a fair, thorough, and lawful process. Justice cannot exist in a democracy that does not fiercely enforce equality under the law.”
Arbery, 25, died in a neighborhood outside of Brunswick. Father and son Gregory and Travis McMichael, 64 and 34, were charged with murder and aggravated assault days after a video of the incident went viral, and the GBI got involved. The two are being held without bond in the Glynn County jail.
“Across our state, our constituents are increasingly alarmed as we learn additional details about the case and its handling,” the delegates’ letter states. “For these reasons, we believe a full investigation, with robust Federal support, is warranted.”
Earlier Wednesday, the GBI announced that search warrants had been executed at the McMichaels’ home.
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