Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has come under scrutiny due to a recent report on the Fulton County Procurement Review by Cherry Bekaert, a North Carolina-based accounting firm. The report concluded that the practices in her office pose “high-risk” due to a lack of accountability in spending federal and state dollars. This has raised concerns about the way her office manages taxpayer funds, with discrepancies in oversight and transparency.
Willis’ office is noted for using “prosecutorial discretion” to bypass established procurement policies, a practice that has been deemed risky. An example of this practice is the procurement of gun holsters and other office supplies without going through proper channels. The report highlighted these issues, emphasizing that such behavior can damage public trust and tarnish the county’s reputation.
“We were informed that the use of prosecutorial discretion has sometimes moved past securing services such as expert witness testimony during the course of a trial, to items such as gun holsters for agents and office supplies and other items that likely could have been planned for and obtained through the Department of Purchasing,” the report reads.
“Prosecutorial discretion.”
Adding to these concerns, the Department of Justice found inconsistencies in Willis’ office’s use of federal dollars, leading to a U.S. House of Representatives investigation headed by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH). Jordan’s probe into Willis’ office suggests she may be redirecting federal funds, intended for anti-gang activities, towards her ongoing racketeering case against former President Donald Trump.
In response to Jordan’s inquiry, Willis has written a letter emphasizing her disagreement with the Oversight Committee’s demands for information, claiming that it would divert resources from prosecuting crimes. She views these demands as politically motivated and reiterated that her office’s focus remains on prosecuting crimes, including gang activities, acts of violence, and public corruption. Willis also mentioned threats against her family and staff, linking these threats to her investigation into Trump’s alleged election interference.
