Embattled Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ use of funds came under scrutiny Friday at a Georgia Senate Select Committee hearing.
Republican Sen. Bill Cowsert questioned the treasurer about Willis’ numerous “enhancement requests” for additional funding, including one asking for about $1 million in 2023 for general court costs. It was included.
Fulton County Chief Financial Officer Sharon Whitmore said the money was paid “as a lump sum without specific line item details” and explained how it would be used. According to the Washington Examiner.
“We’re trying to figure out exactly how much oversight” the office had, Cowsert said, adding: “It sounds like it’s very lax when it comes to hiring practices and spending on independent contractors.”
He was likely referring to Nathan Wade, the prosecutor Willis retained in the county’s election fraud prosecution of Donald Trump and 18 others in 2021.
It was later revealed that Wade and Willis were in a romantic relationship, and the judge ruled that one of them should step down from the case, which resulted in Wade resigning from the case.
Elsewhere during the meeting, Cowsert criticized Willis for spending too much money prosecuting Trump’s case instead of working on the county’s remaining criminal cases, the newspaper reported. did. atlanta journal constitution.
Fulton County Commissioner Rob Pitts was asked whether the county had approved Willis’ hiring of Wade.
“That is solely the district attorney’s prerogative,” Pitts told committee members.
“We don’t go into details like that.”
Whitmore testified that the county commission reviews and votes on the district attorney’s annual general fund budget request. The Rome News Tribune reported.
Willis received $36.6 million from the general fund this fiscal year, she said.
Whitmore said additional funding was provided by the federal government in the form of pandemic relief.
Mr. Willis did not seek prior approval from the committee before using those funds to hire Mr. Wade and two other special prosecutors to handle election interference cases.
“The commission does not have the authority to monitor the district attorney,” Whitmore added.
Mr. Willis did not attend the hearing, but responded at a press conference: The prosecutor’s office did everything by the book. ”
The committee is scheduled to discuss Friday the timing of Willis’ relationship with Wade and the use of campaign funds.
The findings will influence legislative action, including the enactment of laws to strengthen accountability and oversight of prosecutors. A statement from the Georgia Senate read:
Mr. Willis and Mr. Wade have admitted to being in a relationship, but have claimed under oath that their relationship will not become official until 2022, when they have already filed a lawsuit against the former president and his co-defendants.
