Fani Willis refuses to testify in Georgia Senate probe: ‘I will not appear to anything that is unlawful’
Embattled Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis indicated Monday that she will refuse to testify earlier than the Georgia state Senate Special Committee investigating whether or not she misused taxpayer cash throughout her relationship with former particular prosecutor Nathan Wade.
“First of all, I don’t think they even have the authority to subpoena me, but they need to learn the law,” Willis stated of the Republican-led probe throughout a press convention.
“I will not appear to anything that is unlawful, and I have not broken the law in any way,” the district lawyer continued.
“I’m sorry folks get pissed off that everybody gets treated evenly,” she added.
The particular investigation panel held its third public listening to final week, which delved into the sum of money Willis’ workplace has spent prosecuting the historic racketeering case in opposition to former President Donald Trump and his co-defendants and the shortage of oversight different authorities entities have over the district lawyer’s workplace.
The committee has already issued a subpoena for the testimony of Trump co-defendant Michael Roman’s protection lawyer, Ashleigh Merchant, who first introduced the allegations of an “improper” and “clandestine” relationship between Willis and Wade to mild in January.
Republican state Sen. Bill Cowsert, the chairman of the particular committee, has stated that he will compel Willis to present testimony if she doesn’t come in voluntarily.
“I sure hope it doesn’t get to that,” Cowsert instructed FOX 5, threatening to maintain Willis in contempt if she flouts a future subpoena.
“If subpoenaed by the Committee, she will be required to appear, or she will be in violation of Georgia law,” Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones told the outlet.
“This is what treating everybody evenly looks like, even if DA Willis doesn’t like being held accountable,” he added.
Wade resigned from the Trump case in March after Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee issued an ultimatum, forcing both him or Willis to step apart in order for the case to transfer ahead.
Both Willis and Wade have admitted to a love affair however each insisted beneath oath the connection solely grew to become official in 2022 after that they had already introduced the case in opposition to the previous president and his co-defendants.
Willis’ workplace reportedly paid Wade $654,000 in 2022 as a part of his work on the election interference case.
The findings of the state Senate investigation will inform legislative actions, together with probably enacting legal guidelines to guarantee extra accountability and oversight of the DA’s workplace, according to the Georgia Senate.
