The Department of Justice (DOJ) has turned its focus to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis amid allegations of financial mismanagement, a situation that coincides with her prominent role in investigating former President Donald Trump. The DOJ has initiated an inquiry into Willis’s handling of federal grant funds following whistleblower allegations of financial irregularities. The probe comes at a critical juncture, intersecting with Willis’s high-profile investigation into Trump’s actions during the 2020 Georgia election.
The inquiry centers on the alleged misuse of a $488,000 grant earmarked for gang prevention efforts in Fulton County. Whistleblower Amanda Timpson, who claims she was terminated after raising concerns in 2021, triggered the investigation. The DOJ’s review uncovered inconsistencies in Fulton County’s reporting of the grant money, particularly concerning funds purportedly allocated to the Offender Alumni Association, a claim disputed by the charity.
A DOJ spokesperson acknowledged the discrepancies in Fulton County’s reporting and stated that they are working with the county to rectify the issues. Meanwhile, the House Judiciary Committee, under Rep. Jim Jordan, has also taken an interest in Willis’s handling of federal funds and has threatened her with contempt of Congress for insufficient responses to inquiries about the grant.
Willis has vehemently defended her office’s actions, dismissing Timpson’s allegations as baseless and characterizing them as an attempt to harass her. She has asserted that her office has cooperated fully with the DOJ regarding the grant. However, Willis’s involvement in the Trump investigation has drawn criticism, with Trump and his supporters accusing her of political bias.
In a separate development, Trump’s attorneys have requested that a district appeals court reconsider a decision allowing Willis to continue overseeing the case despite concerns about her relationship with prosecutor Nathan Wade. Willis refuted claims of bias, stating that her remarks were too vague to warrant disqualification and that there was no evidence of pre-trial prejudice against the defendants.
The appeals court has until mid-May to review Judge Scott McAfee’s original decision, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing legal saga involving Willis, Trump, and the investigation into the 2020 election.
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