The Georgia Senate special committee investigating Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ professional conduct focused on the discretion DAs have over their budgets during a recent hearing. Republican lawmakers raised concerns about ethics after it was revealed that Willis had hired a special prosecutor she was romantically involved with. The committee discussed rules and regulations for DA offices statewide and budgetary disparities between counties. The committee’s next meeting is on Sept. 13.
Witnesses testified about how grants trickle down to DAs offices, with oversight from the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia. The committee explored ways to develop more ethical guidelines for DAs and discussed the role of a new prosecutor oversight commission in overseeing their conduct. District attorneys handle cases for multiple counties with varying budgets, and accountability is determined by public elections.
Fulton County’s DA office faced criticism in a recent audit, with DA attorneys asserting Willis’ authority to hire special prosecutors. The new oversight commission aims to establish ethics guidelines similar to those for judges. A prosecutor’s disciplinary panel investigates complaints against DAs, including one filed against Willis related to the 2020 election case. Willis has pushed back against attacks from Trump and the GOP, calling it a “witch hunt.” Chairman Cowsert highlighted the need for consistent codes of conduct for prosecutors to ensure fair expectations for citizens.
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