During a special state Senate committee hearing, Fulton County leaders testified that they lacked the legal authority to control District Attorney Fani Willis' spending and her hiring of former special prosecutor Nathan Wade. The committee, led by Republicans, is investigating Willis' decision to hire Wade to investigate and prosecute individuals, including Donald Trump, accused of attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. Willis and Wade have confirmed a romantic relationship.
One concerning incident involved a California man indicted for making threats against Willis. The man, Marc Shultz, allegedly made violent threats against Willis in online comments, leading to his indictment. Shultz appeared before a judge and was released on bail, with a formal arraignment scheduled for June in Atlanta.
Trump and other defendants have raised concerns about Willis' relationship with Wade, alleging a conflict of interest. Despite this, a judge ruled that Willis could continue prosecuting Trump if Wade stepped down. The case has been marked by personal details of the prosecutors' lives being aired in court.
Willis, who is running for reelection, maintains that her office has followed the law. However, lawyer Ashleigh Merchant has argued that Wade's firing violated a state law requiring county commission approval for hiring a special prosecutor.
Fulton County officials stated that while the law may suggest county approval is necessary, past court interpretations have given district attorneys autonomy in hiring decisions. State Senator Bill Cowsert, chair of the committee, expressed disagreement with this interpretation and suggested potential changes to grant counties more oversight over spending by state officers funded by counties.
The committee's extensive questioning of Fulton County's budgeting practices has drawn criticism, with some suggesting waning interest in the investigation. Despite differing interpretations of the law, the committee may consider legislative changes to enhance county control over spending by district attorneys and sheriffs.
