A change in Fulton County Board of Ethics policy could expose District Attorney Fani Willis to new complaints.
Willis has faced increasing scrutiny from her Republican critics as she leads the prosecution of former President Donald Trump, who’s charged in attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia and has repeatedly claimed the vote was stolen from him via widespread election fraud despite a lack of evidence.
Trump has maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty to all charges and accusing Willis of targeting him for political purposes.
Amid the Trump case, critics have raised concerns about Willis’ conduct. Trump and his supporters have argued Willis should be removed from the case over her romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, the prosecutor who has since been removed from the case after a judge ruled either Wade or Willis must depart.
Alyssa Pointer-Pool/Getty Images
Some of these concerns were raised in ethics complaints dropped last month after the board determined it lacked jurisdiction over Willis, a state constitutional officer.
But the ethics board guidelines changed on Wednesday, freeing the board to hear complaints against Willis, according to a report from Rough Draft Atlanta.
The amendment refines the definition of an employee of the count to include “any elected or appointed official whose department or agency is appropriated funds from the county,” which would include Willis’ office.
The policies, however, are not retroactive, Fulton County Board of Commissioners’ Bob Ellis told Rough Draft Atlanta, meaning the ethics board will not necessarily hear the prior complaints raised against Willis.
The ethics complaints centered around Willis’ relationship with Wade. Critics argued that the pair benefited financially from taxpayers’ money through Wade’s appointment. Willis and Wade said that while they did have a relationship, it did not begin until after Wade was appointed to the position and, therefore, not grounds for her disqualification.
Willis maintains that she did not engage in any wrongdoing. It remains unknown whether Willis will face more ethics complaints.
The ethics board was supposed to hear the case on March 7 but ultimately determined not to do so due to lack of jurisdiction.
Willis has also faced a separate ethics complaint, as the state bar alleges she misspent state funds with Wade. House Republicans are also investigating whether her office misused federal grant funds. The Department of Justice previously acknowledged “inconsistencies” in her office’s use of some funds, but details remain unknown.
Newsweek on Friday reached out to Willis’ office for comment via email.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.