Investigation Reveals Financial Oversight Issues in Fulton County DA’s Office
During a Georgia state Senate Special Committee hearing on Friday, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis faced scrutiny over her office’s financial management.
Concerns Raised Over Fiscal Requests
Republican Sen. Bill Cowsert questioned financial officers about the significant “enhancement requests” made by Willis, including a request for approximately $1 million in 2023 for general trial expenses. Fulton County Chief Financial Officer Sharon Whittmore explained that the request was a “lump sum” without specific line-item details.
Lack of Oversight Highlighted
Sen. Cowsert expressed concerns about the level of oversight in the office, particularly regarding employment practices and expenditures for independent contractors. He referenced the hiring of Nathan Wade, who was involved in prosecuting election fraud cases against Donald Trump and others, despite later revelations of a romantic relationship between Wade and Willis.
Criticism Over Allocation of Resources
Cowsert also criticized Willis for allocating significant resources to prosecute the Trump case instead of addressing the county’s backlog of criminal cases. Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts stated that the hiring decisions in the district attorney’s office are solely within the prerogative of the district attorney, with minimal involvement from the county commission.
Financial Oversight Procedures
Whittmore testified that the county commission reviews and approves the district attorney’s annual general fund budget request. Willis received $36.6 million from the general fund for the current fiscal year, with additional funds allocated from federal pandemic relief.
Response from Willis
While Willis did not attend the hearing, she responded at a press conference, asserting that her office has complied with all regulations. She emphasized that the district attorney’s office has followed proper procedures.
Legislative Actions Planned
The committee aims to investigate the timing of Willis and Wade’s relationship and the use of campaign funds. The findings will inform potential legislative actions to enhance accountability and oversight of the district attorney’s office.
Admission of Relationship
Both Willis and Wade admitted to a romantic relationship, but they stated under oath that the relationship became official in 2022, after initiating the case against former President Trump and his co-defendants.
