Embattled Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis suggested Monday that the creation of a new prosecutorial oversight board in Georgia is racially motivated.
“Georgia has never had a prosecutorial oversight board,” Willis told MSNBC host Rachel Maddow when asked about the state Senate’s special committee investigation.
“All of a sudden, 14 minorities were elected district attorney,” she continued. “And now, all of a sudden, we need an oversight board to keep an eye on local prosecutors. or because they want to tell us where to put our resources to make those decisions. ”
A new disciplinary commission approved by the Republican-controlled state Legislature earlier this year and signed into law by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp in March will discipline prosecutors from cases in which misconduct was found in Georgia. and has the power to dismiss.
Willis is currently under investigation by the Georgia Senate for misappropriating taxpayer funds during her relationship with former special prosecutor Nathan Wade, but is facing similar charges and other charges in response to her indictment. There is a possibility that this aspect will be subject to scrutiny from the new agency. Former President Donald Trump.
“They are trying to go after me using false grounds,” the district attorney said Monday.
“The great irony is that even though Georgia has only 14 of the 50 DAs, they are fewer in number than the other 36 DAs because most citizens report to their jurisdictions. “Most of the population is elected, and these minority prosecutors serve them and trust their judgment,” Willis argued.
“But it looks like I need daddy to show me how to do my job now.”
Mr. Willis, 52, also slammed House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who subpoenaed the prosecutor’s office in February for allegedly mishandling federal funds.
“Jim Jordan has attacked my office numerous times without any legitimate purpose,” she claimed. “Anyone who knows Jim Jordan’s history knows that his sole purpose is to interfere with criminal investigations.”
“He has now turned to the gambit of looking at a grant program, which I encourage him to do, and we have responded to his subpoena,” she added. “But he continues to attack, trying to thwart criminal investigations. Even though his jurisdiction has one of the worst crime rates and poverty problems, he “I have never tried to investigate people who are using their position to attack me.” is. ”
Willis called the congressional investigation “disgusting,” adding, “At the state level, we have decided to follow this clown’s lead.”
A spokesman for Jordan did not immediately respond to The Washington Post’s request for comment.
The Georgia Senate Special Investigations Committee held its third hearing related to the Willis investigation earlier this month, examining the amount of money spent and lack of oversight by the prosecutor’s office in prosecuting the historic extortion case against Trump and his co-defendants. I dug it. Another government agency has jurisdiction over the district attorney’s office.
Willis questioned the authority of state lawmakers to issue subpoenas and vowed not to appear before the committee.
