House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan has launched an inquiry into Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis's handling of her investigation into former president Donald Trump.
The former president is facing 13 felony counts in connection with Willis’s investigation into Trump and his allies’ alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Georgia. Those charges include conspiracy to commit forgery, filing false documents, Solicitation of Violation of Oath by Public Officer, and violating the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
Now, the Judiciary Committee is investigating whether her investigation was politically motivated and whether she coordinated with the Department of Justice when charging Trump.
“Your indictment and prosecution implicate substantial federal interests, and the circumstances surrounding your actions raise serious concerns about whether they are politically motivated,” Jordan wrote in a letter to Willis.
"News outlets have reported that your office and Mr. Smith 'interviewed many of the same witnesses and reviewed much of the same evidence' in reaching your decision to indict President Trump," the Ohio Republican wrote. "The House Committee on the Judiciary thus may investigate whether federal law enforcement agencies or officials were involved in your investigation or indictment."
The Fulton County indictment was the former president's fourth in four months. He was already facing four felony counts as a result of special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
The committee is requesting documents related to Fulton County's communications with federal prosecutors, Department of Justice officials and Executive Branch personnel.
Jordan also cited several incidents that have led him to question Willis’s motivation, including her decision to launch a new campaign fundraising website just four days before Trump was indicted that highlighted her investigation into the former president. The letter also mentions that the forewoman of the special grand jury in the case previously “bragged during an unusual media tour about her excitement at the prospect of subpoenaing President Trump and getting to swear him in” and that the Fulton County Superior Court’s clerk publicly released a list of criminal charges against Trump hours before the vote of the grand jury.
Finally, Jordan adds that Willis was disqualified by the Fulton County court from targeting Georgia Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones in her investigation because she supported and held fundraising events for his Democratic opponent.
Jordan went on to question Willis’s decision to bring charges against Trump two-and-a-half years after starting her investigation, “at a time when the campaign for the Republican presidential nomination is in full swing.” Willis has requested that the trial begin on March 4, one day before Super Tuesday.
“It is therefore unsurprising many have speculated that this indictment and prosecution are designed to interfere with the 2024 presidential election,” Jordan wrote.
Trump was one of 19 defendants charged in the case.
Prosecutors allege that individuals involved in the efforts "engaged in various related criminal activities including, but not limited to, false statements and writings, impersonating a public officer, forgery, filing false documents, influencing witnesses, computer theft, computer trespass, computer invasion of privacy, conspiracy to defraud the state, acts involving theft, and perjury." The indictment says 161 separate acts were undertaken to advance the "criminal conspiracy."
Willis's investigation, which began in early 2021, centered on alleged efforts from Trump and his allies to pressure election officials, and a plan to put forward fake electors. The investigation was launched shortly after Trump called Georgia secretary of state Brad Raffensperger and pressured him to "find" the votes needed to flip the state in his favor.
Comments
Post a Comment