Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis delivered a fiery defence of her prosecution of Donald Trump during a combative hearing before a Georgia state senate panel on Wednesday.
A Committee's Investigation and a DA's Defence
The special committee was established by the state senate in early 2024 to investigate Willis following revelations of a romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor she appointed to the Trump election interference case. That relationship ultimately derailed the prosecution of the now re-elected president.
Initially focused on whether the pair improperly benefited financially, the probe expanded after Trump's 2024 election victory. Senators sought signs that Willis had coordinated with the congressional January 6 committee while using federal grant money.
"You want something to investigate as a legislature? Investigate how many times they've called me the N-word," Willis declared during her contentious testimony. She challenged the panel to look into racist threats and the fact her home had been 'swatted'.
Allegations of Coordination and Financial Scrutiny
State Senator Greg Dolezal, the committee's vice-chairman and a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, asserted they had uncovered a timeline of coordination with the January 6 committee through Wade's billing records. "We laid out a timeline today of coordination with the J6 committee through Nathan Wade's billing," Dolezal stated.
He referenced records showing Wade was in Washington while the January 6 committee met and had billed for meetings with it. Dolezal accused Willis of trying to deflect from the core issue: "The DA wants to make this about everything other than the fact that they coordinated with the White House to bring lawfare against President Trump."
Willis countered by suggesting the state inquiry was linked to efforts by the US House judiciary committee and Congressman Jim Jordan, who have questioned her motives and alleged misuse of funds. She pointedly asked Dolezal mid-hearing if he was working with Jordan, which he denied.
Justifying Resources and Facing Down Threats
Under questioning, Willis explained her decision to hire outside counsel for the high-profile Trump case. "Because we were drowning," she replied, noting her team was prioritising major cases, including the murders of two children. She said she needed a lawyer to manage the team, which at its peak involved nine attorneys.
The hearing grew tense, with Dolezal at times cutting off Willis's microphone and attempting to silence objections from her counsel, former governor Roy Barnes. Willis remained resolute, dismissing the impact of threats. "I'm not Marjorie Taylor Greene," she said. "I'm not going to quit in a month because someone threatened me."
While the senate committee has the power to amend state law, it cannot sanction Willis directly. However, Dolezal suggested federal officials might find the alleged link to the January 6 committee and the use of grant funds "relatively interesting" for their own potential inquiries.
