CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — A top prosecutor in the Clayton County District Attorney's Office has been fired, and he says it's because the DA is upset he plans to run against her.
"The notice simply says termination," Jason Green told Channel 2s Tom Jones outside the Clayton County Courthouse.
Green showed the letter District Attorney Tracy Graham Lawson signed off on telling him he was fired.
"'Mr. Green was untruthful when questioned about an event by the district attorney,'" he read.
The now-former executive assistant DA says Lawson told him she heard he met with Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill to strategize about running against her in the next election.
"And I told her no such meeting took place," Green said.
Lawson initiated a special grand jury that eventually indicted Hill on corruption charges. A jury acquitted Hill.
Green says Lawson also told him she's heard his wife, who works in the courthouse, has also told people he will run against her.
"She threatened my wife's job security by saying that if my wife is saying that it's not going to end well for her," he said.
Green thinks the county's top prosecutor is using her office for revenge because of rumors. When contacted by phone, Lawson said she doesn't discuss personnel issues.
Green's discipline record only shows he was verbally counseled last year for not assigning murder cases promptly.
"Her words are that I'm her murder expert," he said, alluding to his value in the department as the prosecutor who handles high-profile murder cases.
Green says citizens and victims are losing their top prosecutor of violent crimes. It was pointed out to him Lawson has the right to hire and fire whomever she wants.
"I think it's irresponsible, even if it's legal," he responded.
Green says he is running for the seat Lawson holds. That election is two years away. A point, he says, that really makes his firing all the more baffling.
WSBTV