Fani Willis to go before lawmakers investigating her Trump case
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
ATLANTA, Ga. - In a reversal of her previous actions, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has agreed to testify before a Senate committee looking into her historic 2021 indictment of President Donald Trump.
The announcement comes from Sen. Greg Dolezal, who sponsored the legislation establishing the special committee last year and serves as its vice chair. Willis said she would respond to the subpoena on Nov. 13 at 10 a.m. with limited questions.
The committee met on Friday to hear from Ian Heap, executive director of the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission. Heap testified before the nine-senator committee, several of whose GOP members are running for higher office next year.
For months, GOP lawmakers have been attempting to force Willis to testify as they investigate Willis’ office finances, hiring practices and a relationship she had with Nathan Wade, the top prosecutor on Willis’ election indictment against Trump and his allies.
Willis has cited scheduling concerns as the reason for not scheduling a date for testimony, and lawmakers have previously said they’re prepared to get more heavy-handed with the legal system if she doesn’t.
The panel can’t bring charges itself, but a judge ruled late last year that they do have the power to issue subpoenas and compel testimony.
Willis is being represented by former Georgia governor Roy Barnes, who contends the Senate committee does not have the power to subpoena her. He also argued the subpoenas were overly broad and not related to a legitimate legislative need, saying the committee is seeking confidential and privileged information, as well as private and personal information.
In August 2021, Willis handed up a historic series of indictments against Trump, accusing him and 17 of his GOP allies — including former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani — of engaging in a criminal conspiracy to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results.
That election saw Joe Biden defeat Trump in Georgia by less than 17,000 votes. On his way to the White House, Biden became the first Democrat since Bill Clinton in 1992 to carry Georgia or any other deep Southern state.
But a since-acknowledged romantic relationship between Willis and Wade threw the case into an entirely new political and judicial spectrum.
And now that Trump has become the 47th president-elect, Willis — who was reelected in her own right on Election Day — and her prosecution was faced with even more uncertainty.
Last month, the Supreme Court of Georgia declined to hear Willis’ appeal of her removal from the election interference case against Trump.
Also in late September, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a subpoena for Willis’ travel records. The subpoena is potentially related to travel by Willis around the time of the 2024 election.
The Senate committee is chaired by Bill Cowsert, a Republican from Athens who is running for state attorney general. Its vice chair, Sen. Dolezal, R-Cumming, announced earlier this week he is running for lieutenant governor.
State Sens. Blake Tillery, R-Vidalia; Steve Gooch, R-Dahlonega; and John Kennedy, R-Macon, are also running for lieutenant governor.
Former state Sen. Jason Esteves, a Democrat from Atlanta, was also on the committee, but he has since resigned his seat as he continues mounting a Democratic gubernatorial campaign.
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Whatever happened to her broad wide ranging RICO case against Donald Trump, and everyone connected to him?
Well, I guess she can host "Love & Hip Hop in Atlanta."