House Judiciary Committee seeks testimony, documents from Fulton County DA employees

Background on the Inquiry

What we know:

The committee’s interest in the Fulton County case stems from District Attorney Fani Willis' coordination with the now-defunct January 6 Select Committee in her investigation of Trump. 

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A Dec. 17, 2021, letter from Willis to Representative Bennie Thompson, then-chairman of the January 6 Committee, reportedly requested access to records that could be relevant to her case, including transcripts, electronic communications, and travel records. Members of Willis' team then traveled to Washington, D.C., at the expense of Fulton County taxpayers, to meet with January 6 Committee members and review nonpublic documents, according to testimony from FCDAO Assistant District Attorney Dexter Bond.

The House Judiciary Committee, led by Chairman Jim Jordan, has previously sent multiple letters to Willis, requesting documents related to her coordination with the January 6 Committee. However, Willis has reportedly refused to fully comply, citing attorney-client privilege, work product protections, and other legal exemptions. In a Dec. 12, 2024, letter, Willis acknowledged that her office possesses key evidence from the January 6 Committee but declined to turn it over, according to the Judiciary Committee.

Committee’s Request for Testimony and Documents

In light of Willis’ refusal to cooperate, the committee is now seeking documents and testimony from the above-named individuals. They are asking the FCDAO employees to:

1. Provide all communications with the January 6 Select Committee from July 1, 2021, to January 3, 2023.
2. Turn over all records obtained from the January 6 Select Committee that are in their possession.

The committee has also asked the employees to appear for a transcribed interview and provide the requested materials by Feb. 20, 2025.

Recent Developments and Legal Challenges

The backstory:

On Dec. 19, 2024, the Georgia Court of Appeals disqualified Willis and the FCDAO from prosecuting the Trump election interference case. However, Willis has since appealed the ruling to the Georgia Supreme Court, leaving the final outcome uncertain.

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Willis was ultimately disqualified because of questions surrounding her relationship with a former special prosecutor, Nathan Wade, whom she hired to lead the investigation into then former President Trump. 

The House Judiciary Committee also launched an investigation into the relationship between Willis and Wade.

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The other side:

FOX 5 Atlanta reached out to the Fulton County District Attorney's Office a couple of hours before this story was published. At this time, a response has not been received. This story will be updated once they have responded, if they choose to do so. 

What's next:

The Judiciary Committee, citing its jurisdiction over criminal justice matters, argues that the FCDAO’s prosecution of President Trump raises significant federal concerns. The committee remains focused on whether Willis' collaboration with the January 6 Committee influenced her case against Trump and whether the prosecution is politically motivated.

As the investigation continues, the committee may escalate its efforts if the employees do not comply, potentially issuing a subpoena or taking further legal action to obtain the requested documents.

Read the full article here.