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 committee on Wednesday.
A Committee Investigation Born from Controversy
The special committee was established by the Georgia state senate in early 2024 to investigate Willis. This followed revelations of a romantic relationship between Willis and 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, senators focused on whether Willis and Wade had improperly benefited financially. However, after Trump's 2024 election victory, the probe expanded. It began examining whether Willis had coordinated with the US House January 6 committee while using federal grant money.
"Investigate the Threats Against Me"
Willis's testimony was marked by sharp exchanges with Republican senators. She redirected their questions towards the threats and racism she has faced. "You want something to investigate as a legislature? Investigate how many times they've called me the N-word," Willis stated. She challenged them to look into people writing on her house and the fact it had been 'swatted'.
She accused the committee of political theatre, saying, "And you can use all this in your campaign ad – you attacked Fani Willis. What have you done, sir? Nothing." The committee has the power to change Georgia law but cannot sanction Willis directly.
Allegations of Coordination and Financial Scrutiny
State Senator Greg Dolezal, the committee's vice-chairman and a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, led much of the questioning. He alleged coordination between Willis's office and the January 6 committee, citing Nathan Wade's billing records which noted meetings in Washington.
"We laid out a timeline today of coordination with the J6 committee through Nathan Wade's billing," Dolezal said. He argued Willis was avoiding 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."
Dolezal presented documents suggesting Wade was paid from forfeiture funds, while Willis maintained her understanding was that he was paid from professional services budgets. When asked why she hired outside counsel for the Trump case, Willis replied, "Because we were drowning." She explained her team was prioritising major cases, including the murders of two children, Kennedy Maxie and Secoriea Turner.
A Broader Political Battle
Willis framed the committee's inquiry as part of a wider campaign against her, linking it to investigations by the US House Judiciary Committee and Congressman Jim Jordan. She pointedly asked Dolezal mid-hearing if he was working with Jordan, which he denied.
Dolezal suggested federal officials might find the alleged link to the January 6 committee and the use of grant funds "relatively interesting." Throughout the hearing, tensions ran high, with Dolezal at times cutting off Willis's microphone and trying to silence objections from her counsel, former governor Roy Barnes.
Willis remained defiant in the face of political pressure and threats, drawing a contrast with a prominent Republican. "I'm not Marjorie Taylor Greene," she declared. "I'm not going to quit in a month because someone threatened me." The hearing underscores the intense national scrutiny surrounding the halted Georgia prosecution of Donald Trump.
