Georgia lawmakers investigating potential abuse of power by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis are now calling for her arrest after the anti-Donald Trump prosecutor disregarded their latest legal order.
The investigation into Willis was initiated last year following GOP Gov. Brian Kemp’s decision to renew a commission responsible for overseeing state prosecutors and removing them if they violate their oath.
Critics argue that this action is in retaliation against Willis for her ongoing prosecution of Trump. Last week, the controversy escalated when Willis did not comply with a subpoena to testify about her case. Instead, she sent two senior deputies who argued for the importance of prosecutorial independence and maintained that the Trump case was not politically motivated.
Newsweek reported that the Georgia Senate’s Special Committee on Investigations is investigating Willis over “allegations of misconduct…relating to potential conflicts of interest and misuse of public funds, to enact new or amend existing laws and/or change state appropriations to restore public confidence in the criminal justice system.”
The State Senate committee directed Fani Willis to provide “sworn testimony,” but she defied the order and instead went to Washington, D.C. for a fundraiser. A court battle is now set to determine whether Willis had a legal justification for ignoring the subpoena.
Democratic former Georgia Gov. Ray Barnes, who is representing Willis in the probe, said she “will not appear until there has been a judicial determination of the validity of the subpoena.” Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani previously told Newsweek, “These sorts of legislative subpoenas are generally void because of the separation of powers.”
However, GOP lawmakers, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), disagree, noting that former Trump administration officials like Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro were convicted in federal court after ignoring congressional subpoenas.
“Fani Willis thinks she is above the law, defying a subpoena from the Georgia State Senate today. Her defiance is absolutely unacceptable. There are very serious questions regarding various potential forms of misconduct,” the conservative Republican wrote on X. “This investigation is all the more urgent considering her political persecution of the leading candidate for President. Fani Willis is NOT above the law.”
In a second post, she added, “Fani Willis should be arrested for ignoring her subpoena.”
Fani Willis thinks she is above the law, defying a subpoena from the Georgia State Senate today.
Her defiance is absolutely unacceptable. There are very serious questions regarding various potential forms of misconduct.
This investigation is all the more urgent considering her…
— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) September 13, 2024
Under Georgia law, defying a legislative subpoena can lead to contempt of court charges, a fine of up to $300, and up to 20 days in jail.
