Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis faced rigorous questioning over her financial and employment decisions during a recent hearing.
The New York Post reported that Willis’ budgetary practices and her association with Nathan Wade are being scrutinized amid concerns of mishandling county funds.
On Friday, a Georgia state Senate Special Committee convened to investigate Fani Willis’ use of funds and employment practices.
The focal point was several financial "enhancement requests" made by Willis, including a notable request for approximately $1 million in 2023, intended for general trial expenses.
Fulton County Chief Financial Officer Sharon Whitmore presented this request as a "lump sum" which notably lacked detailed breakdowns.
Republican Sen. Bill Cowsert, highlighting the vague nature of the allocation, voiced his concerns over the apparent lack of oversight, particularly in how Willis' office managed employment and expenses for independent contractors.
"Trying to get a feeling for exactly how much oversight,” Cowsert said, indicating the perceived laxity in Willis’ financial management. “Sounds like it’s very loose as far as employment practices and expenditures for independent contractors,” he added.
The committee also addressed Willis’ hiring of Nathan Wade, a prosecutor in the high-profile election fraud case against former President Donald Trump and 18 others. It emerged that Wade, prior to his professional engagement, had been romantically involved with Willis.
This relationship prompted legal scrutiny, culminating in a judicial decision that necessitated one of them to step down from their role, leading to Wade's resignation. This sequence of events fed into broader concerns about the judgment and priorities of the District Attorney's office.
Amidst these revelations, Cowsert criticized the significant attention and resources dedicated to the Trump case over addressing Fulton County’s backlog of criminal cases. “That’s solely the prerogative of the District Attorney,” countered Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts, affirming the autonomy of Willis in hiring decisions.
Despite the local oversight, Willis secured $36.6 million from the county’s general fund for the current fiscal year. She also acquired additional funds from the federal government, earmarked as pandemic relief, which she used to appoint Wade and two other special prosecutors for the Trump case without prior approval from the commission.
Whitmore’s testimony underscored that the board of commissioners has no direct oversight over the district attorney's spending, a fact that Willis leveraged in her employment decisions. This autonomy, however, has sparked a debate over the need for more stringent checks on such discretionary spending.
Willis defended her office's actions in a subsequent press conference, maintaining that all procedures were followed rigorously. “They can look all they want. The DA’s office has done everything according to the books,” Willis stated, asserting her adherence to regulations.
The ongoing investigation is set to evaluate not only the timing of Willis and Wade’s official relationship but also the overall usage of campaign funds. The outcome of this scrutiny could potentially lead to legislative changes aimed at enhancing accountability and oversight within the district attorney’s office.
Willis and Wade have acknowledged their relationship, affirming under oath that it became official in 2022, subsequent to initiating the case against Trump and his co-defendants. This admission has added another layer of complexity to the oversight of Willis' professional actions and her office’s integrity.
In conclusion, the Senate Special Committee's hearing has illuminated significant concerns regarding the financial and ethical management of the Fulton County District Attorney’s office. With potential legislative actions on the horizon, increased oversight could become a new norm for district attorneys across Georgia. All parties await the findings of the investigation, which will likely influence future governance of prosecutorial conduct.
