Georgia House lawmakers passed a bill Monday that would restore a commission with the power to discipline and fire prosecutors, a bill Republicans are using to lead the charge against former President Donald Trump. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis could be targeted.
Willis is under intense scrutiny over allegations that he hired special prosecutor Nathan Wade to work on the case because of his alleged relationship.
The House passed House Bill 881 95-75 along party lines, sending it to the Senate for further discussion. A similar bill was introduced by a Senate committee last week that would create a special committee to investigate Willis’ “inappropriate” extramarital affairs.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed a bill last year creating the Prosecuting Attorney Qualifications Commission. However, the commission could not begin operations because the state Supreme Court refused to approve rules governing the commission’s actions.
Georgia Senate launches committee to investigate Trump prosecutor Fannie Willis for ‘inappropriate’ cases
Fani Willis, the Fulton County district attorney who sued former President Donald Trump for election interference, has come under fire from all quarters. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
The justices said there were “serious questions” about the ability of district attorneys to regulate their duties beyond the practice of law. Monday’s action removes the requirement for Supreme Court approval.
“This committee will be able to begin the real work of bringing accountability to unscrupulous prosecuting attorneys who abuse their positions,” Rep. Joseph Garrett, a Dallas Republican who sponsored the bill, told The Associated Press. told.
The paper said Garrett and other Republicans cited examples of prosecutorial misconduct in the past, such as when Democrats supported the Prosecution Oversight Commission initiative, and that the measure directly targeted Willis. It is reported that he denies that this is the case.
But Democratic opposition to the commission is growing, saying Republicans are trying to override the will of Democratic voters.
“The committee will be able to proceed unilaterally and will have the ability to interfere and undermine the ongoing investigation into Donald J. Trump,” said House Minority Whip Sam Park, D-Lawrenceville. said. “You are taking action to protect former President Trump from ongoing criminal prosecution.”
John Malcolm, a former assistant U.S. attorney in Atlanta, said in an interview on Fox News Digital that the charges against Willis are “serious.”
“They should have been investigated, and it certainly jeopardized this prosecution and tainted not only Fulton County, but potentially the entire state. That’s why the Georgia Legislature was up in arms about this. “I understand why,” he said.
Mr Malcolm, who is now director of the Meath Center for Law and Justice Research, said “these are difficult times” for Mr Willis and that Mr Willis may ultimately decide to withdraw from the case. Ta.
Fani Willis should be removed from tort case for ‘compromising’ prosecution of Donald Trump: expert
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade (Getty Images)
The alleged affair between Willis and Wade stems from a court filing by Trump co-defendant Michael Roman.
According to court documents filed earlier this month by Roman Willis, who sued for election interference. accusations against trumpcontinues to have an “improper” relationship with Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor he hired to help prosecute the top 2024 Republican candidate.
Wade, who has no experience with RICO or felony prosecution, has billed taxpayers $654,000 since January 2021, according to court documents.
According to Roman’s filing, Wade billed Fulton County for a 24-hour work day in November 2021, shortly after being appointed special prosecutor, and Willis received a lavish vacation in November 2021. It alleges that he took the money with him and profited financially from the inflated salaries of his alleged lover, which were paid for by his taxes. His dime.
Willis first addressed the allegations earlier this month at Big Bethel AME Church in Atlanta.
President Trump slams Fulton County Prosecutor Fani Willis over alleged girlfriend: ‘Completely compromised’
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis speaks during a service at Big Bethel AME Church where she was an invited guest speaker on Sunday, January 14, 2024 in Atlanta. (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, via AP)
“They only attacked one person,” she said. “First they say, ‘Oh, she’s going to play her race card now.’
“But God is different, aren’t they the ones who are cutting the race card with just one question?” Willis asked.
“We can’t expect black women to be perfect and save the world,” Willis said, adding, “We need to be allowed to stumble. We need grace.”
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Mr. Trump’s lawyers joined Mr. Roman’s efforts Thursday, accusing Mr. Willis and Mr. Wade of “inappropriately bringing race into the case and inciting racial hostility” in response to allegations of misconduct against Mr. Willis. and filed a motion to remove her office from the case.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
