Georgia Senate Majority Leader Bill Cowsert told Fulton County Commission Chairman Rob Pitts on Friday that District Attorney Fani Willis’ office would pay 10,000 to the service that monitors her media coverage shortly before announcing the investigation. He asked whether the committee would approve spending the dollars. To former President Donald Trump.
Willis announced in a Feb. 11, 2021, letter that she had opened a criminal investigation into Trump for election interference, and her office had contracted with. important mentionThe Daily Caller News Foundation, a New York-based media monitoring service, reported in January, days earlier, based on invoices and emails. Mr. Cowsert questioned Mr. Pitts about the validity of the contract and whether the board would approve it if it had sought permission. (Related: Exclusive: Fulton County Commissioner asks Fannie Willis for information on alleged ‘misuse’ of county funds)
“Mr. Chairman, is that something that the committee typically approves or budgets for the various departments?” Cowsert asked.
“That, of course, is not something we are aware of on a day-to-day basis, and I don’t recall ever making such a request to the board, but it is important to note that it is not something that we are aware of on a day-to-day basis, and I do not recall any such request being made to the board, but it is important to note that “If it’s in the budget, if that’s what we feel we need to do, we can do it if we have the money under the Constitutional Commissioner’s umbrella,” Pitts responded.
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DCNF said Willis was interested in tracking media coverage of himself and his office as he began his investigation into Trump. Her first invoice, charging $10,000 for her annual contract, was dated February 8, 2021, and her office said in negotiations with the company as of February 1, according to her email. It is clear that he was doing this.
“But you’re the one who has to approve those funds, because I can tell you it’s not in the state budget. We don’t give public relations money to the prosecutor’s office,” Cowsert said. said.
Pitts said the board would not approve funding for that particular contract. But because Willis is a constitutional officer, he could have used other funds he already had approval to hire the company, he added.
“Would you approve that kind of funding if she specifically requested it?” Cowsaerts asked, making it clear that he was referring to the board.
“I can’t speak for the entire board, but from what I know about the board, probably not. Probably not for the purpose you described,” Pitts responded. .
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