The highly anticipated testimony of a whistleblower from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ office has finally taken place, leaving attendees and viewers stunned by the allegations of political corruption.
Amanda Timpson, a former employee of Willis, testified before investigators from the U.S. House of Representatives and the Georgia Legislature, claiming she was abruptly fired after raising concerns about the misuse of federal grant money. The funds, intended to establish the Center of Youth Empowerment and Gang Prevention, were allegedly diverted to cover expenses like travel, computers, and “swag.”
“I’m here today to fight for my reputation, to fight for the youth but also to fight for what’s right,” Timpson declared on Thursday, according to Fox 5 Atlanta. The hearing, led by the Senate Special Committee on Investigations and chaired by Republican state Sen. Bill Cowsert, sought to uncover the truth behind Timpson’s allegations. Cowsert, who has previously invited Willis to testify, indicated he would subpoena her if necessary.
Timpson recounted how her former supervisor, Michael Cuffey, first suggested diverting the grant money for office items. “In this meeting, this was the first time on what he (Michael Cuffey) wanted to spend the grant on. He said he wanted to spend it on computers, travel, and swag,” Timpson testified. She claimed that although she tried to allocate the funds properly during former DA Paul Howard’s tenure, the priorities shifted once Willis took office.
“As I insisted that it is not what we could do, that’s when I realized my treatment changed,” Timpson said. “She (Willis) said something like, ‘What’s going on?’ And when I went to speak, she cut me off and she said, ‘Effective immediately you’re going to be removed and demoted.'”
After escalating the issue to the office’s human resources department, Timpson claimed she was escorted out by armed security personnel.
Willis, who recently won her Democratic primary for re-election, was defended by Democrats on the committee, who accused Timpson of being a “Republican political pawn.”
“At this point, it’s becoming frustrating because we are wasting time of senators and Georgians but people all over this country,” one Democratic senator remarked.
Willis has refused to testify before the committee. “I will not appear to anything that is unlawful, and I have not broken the law,” she stated. “I’ve said it amongst these leaders, I’m sorry folks get pissed off that everybody gets treated equally.”
“She said as recently as this morning, nobody is above the law. She is saying this out of one side of her mouth and out the other she is saying ‘I am above the law. I will not comply,'” Sen. Cowsert responded.
Willis remains under investigation by the committee, which has the authority to remove a district attorney from office for violating their oath. Additionally, the U.S. House Oversight Committee, led by Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH), is examining whether Willis misused federal grants or coordinated her prosecution of former President Donald Trump with the White House.
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