Kemp To Issue Executive Order After Negotiations With ATL Mayor

ATLANTA, GA —Gov. Brian Kemp announced Thursday that he will ask the attorney general to withdraw the lawsuit he filed against Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and the city council.

Kemp sued the city last month seeking to ban Bottoms' mask mandate. The announcement followed her news conference in which she said publicly that her order was "enforceable." Kemp said that rolling the city back to Phase 1 would mean that some businesses would need to close again.

Kemp said Thursday that during negotiations, the mayor agreed to back down on the Phase 1 rollback, but would not roll back her mask mandate.

Kemp said because of the stalemate with Bottoms he will address the mask mandate issue in a new Executive Order after his current order expires on August 15.

“We will continue to protect the lives and livelihoods of all Georgians,” Kemp said.

Last month, two Fulton County judges recused themselves from the case between Kemp and Bottoms.

Judge Shawn Ellen LaGrua recused herself first, saying she formerly "worked as Inspector General for Governor Brian P. Kemp in his capacity as Georgia Secretary of State; and Judge LaGrua has been and remains under consideration for Gubernatorial appointments" by the governor.

Then Judge Ellerbe recused herself from the case.