House Judiciary Committee Subpoenas Atlanta DA Fani Willis

Paresh Jadhav

10 months ago

On Friday, the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee issued a subpoena to Atlanta District Attorney Fani Willis demanding she provide documents and communications related to her use of federal funds. Willis stands accused of misappropriating grant money in her office for computers and “swag,” while also dismissing an employee who reported abuse.

Willis also refutes claims from Trump codefendants that Nathan Wade and her had an improper relationship, while those same individuals allege she and Nathan Wade may have been in an illicit romance, something Willis denies.

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The Subpoena

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan subpoenaed Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis leading the case against Donald Trump on Friday, demanding communications relating to her office’s receipt and use of federal grant money. Jordan, an ally of Trump, had previously issued subpoenas against Willis over allegations she misappropriated funds.

House panel is investigating allegations that Willis’ office misappropriated $488,000 of federal grant funding intended for youth empowerment and gang prevention center. Jordan cites a whistleblower claiming this money was instead used for purchasing MacBooks, other “swag”, travel costs etc.

Jordan had made two prior requests for information to Willis and accused her of disregarding them, before demanding she produce documents by February 23. Willis condemned Jordan’s inquiry as violating state sovereignty and separation of powers while interfering with an ongoing criminal case against Trump.

The Whistleblower

House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan issued a subpoena to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis on behalf of his Republican-led committee to compel her to hand over documents and communications relating to Fulton County DA Willis’ office’s receipt and use of federal grant money earmarked for gang prevention efforts. The GOP panel is investigating allegations that Willis misappropriated this funding.

Investigation began after allegations from a former employee that her office used $488,000 of grant money for “frivolous, unrelated expenses,” as stated in a letter accompanying Jordan’s subpoena obtained by NBC News. Jordan issued his subpoena against Willis to compile communications regarding these allegations as she failed to cooperate voluntarily with previous requests for information from him.

Jordan wants to know whether any coordination between Willis’ office and federal prosecutors pursuing Trump was political in nature. Willis has denied any wrongdoing and stands behind her prosecution of President Trump and 18 co-defendants she alleges have engaged in an elaborate racketeering scheme designed to affect Georgia’s elections.

The Politics

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan issued a subpoena Friday seeking documents and communications related to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ receipt and use of grant funds received. A conservative news outlet had published audio recording from an aide saying Willis planned on using grant meant for youth gang prevention to misuse it instead.

The District Attorney has frequently expressed his displeasure with Jordan’s requests, contending they amount to congressional intrusion and legislative meddling in state prosecutions. A lawsuit filed this week alleges an ex-employee named Amanda Timpson was fired after reporting Willis’ office had illegally used part of a $488,000 grant intended for creating a Center for Youth Empowerment and Gang Prevention on “swag” and computers instead.

Willis is also facing allegations that she misappropriated funds by hiring special prosecutor Nathan Wade while romantically involved with him; sources indicate she does not plan to step aside or recuse herself from the Trump case, even though her co-defendants have suggested this may be necessary.

The Bottom Line

House Judiciary Committee subpoena for Atlanta-area District Attorney Fani Willis centers around allegations that her office misappropriated federal grant funds and fired a whistleblower. Ohio Republican Congressman Jim Jordan detailed this plan in his Friday letter by writing that part of a $488,000 federal grant meant for creating a Center of Youth Empowerment and Gang Prevention was being illegally utilized to cover “frivolous expenses unrelated to its intended use”.

Jordan also quoted from a report in the conservative Washington Free Beacon which asserted that Willis’ office fired an employee who warned against misuse of grants; this accusation was strongly denied by Willis’ office.

This letter escalates the tensions between Jordan, an outspoken supporter of President Trump, and Willis’ office, which has charged former president Clinton with racketeering in connection with Georgia election interference allegations. Willis has dismissed Jordan’s requests as congressional interference in her case and accused Jordan of lacking an understanding of law, prosecutorial duties, or ethics related to this case.