In a significant political development, House Judiciary Committee chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) has initiated a probe into Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
The investigation focuses on the acceptance of over $14.6 million in Department of Justice grant funds by Willis between 2020 and 2023, amid allegations of these funds being used to finance former President Donald Trump's prosecution.
Jim Jordan's inquiry, announced on Friday, scrutinizes the substantial federal funding received by Willis's office. The timeline of these funds coincides with the legal proceedings against Trump in Georgia, raising questions about their potential misuse.
Central to the investigation are recent allegations against Nathan Wade, a key associate of Willis. Jordan's letter to Wade demands documents about possible coordination with politically driven probes and suspected misappropriation of federal grants.
The probe gains momentum following court filings by Mike Roman, a co-defendant in the Trump case. These filings accuse Willis and Wade of several improprieties.
According to Roman, Wade, who lacks substantial prosecution experience, was appointed without proper authorization. Furthermore, Roman asserts that Wade had an inappropriate relationship with Willis and used county funds for personal luxury trips with her.
In his communication, Rep. Jordan explicitly raised six concerns about Willis and Wade's alleged misconduct. The primary focus is on the possible financing of Trump's prosecution using the $14.6 million in federal grants.
These concerns are part of a broader Republican effort to investigate Willis, Breitbart reported.
Earlier this week, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene filed a complaint, pushing for the dismissal of the charges against Trump.
The timeline of events surrounding Willis's actions is critical in understanding the context of Jordan's investigation. Between 2020 and 2023, Willis's office received substantial DOJ funding.
Further scrutiny arises from Willis's billing of taxpayers for 24 hours of work in a single day during Trump's prosecution in November 2021 and her interactions with the January 6th Committee in 2022.
These events culminated in Trump's indictment by a Fulton County grand jury in August 2022. The recent court filings by Roman in October 2023 brought to light the alleged misconduct by Willis and Wade.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, echoing the concerns raised by Jordan, expressed high expectations from Governor Brian Kemp and Attorney General Chris Carr for a criminal investigation into these matters.
"I really have high expectations of Gov. Kemp and our Attorney General Chris Carr. There should be a criminal investigation."
Greene also warned of perceived political bias if Governor Kemp disregarded these allegations.
Rep. Jordan, in his letter, emphasized the ambiguity surrounding the large sum of federal funds received by the Fulton County District Attorney's Office (FCDAO). He questioned whether these funds were channeled to finance the prosecution against Trump.
"The Committee has information that the FCDAO received approximately $14.6 million in grant funds from the Department of Justice between 2020 and 2023 and, given the enormous legal fees you have billed to the FCDAO, there are open questions about whether federal funds were used by the FCDAO to finance your prosecution."
Additionally, Jordan cited a report from Politico highlighting how the partisan January 6 Committee potentially aided Willis's prosecution efforts against Trump.
Rep. Jim Jordan's investigation into Fulton County DA Fani Willis centers on the acceptance and use of over $14.6 million in DOJ grants.
The probe, sparked by allegations of misuse of these funds for Trump's prosecution, also scrutinizes Willis's associate Nathan Wade for alleged misconduct.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's call for a criminal investigation further escalates the political dimensions of this issue, highlighting the ongoing tensions and the scrutiny of political figures in contemporary American politics.
