The news just keeps getting worse for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis after her attempted prosecution of President-elect Donald Trump.
A Georgia judge ruled Monday that Willis must answer to state Senate subpoenas investigating her alleged misconduct, just days after she was forcibly removed from prosecuting Trump’s case.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shukura Ingram gave Willis until January 13 to submit arguments over whether the Senate subpoenas seek legally protected information.
The ruling follows last week’s appeals court decision disqualifying Willis from the case over her secret sexual relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, who she hired with taxpayer money.
“This is the rare case in which disqualification is mandated and no other remedy will suffice to restore public confidence,” the appeals court wrote in its 2-1 decision, citing an “appearance of impropriety.”
The Senate investigation focuses on Wade’s compensation, estimated at a huge $650,000 annually – three to four times a regular prosecutor’s salary. Wade allegedly spent substantial sums on gifts and trips with Willis while serving as special prosecutor hired by her office, despite lacking felony or racketeering case experience.
“Judge Ingram rejected every argument made by Willis in her attempt to dodge providing testimony to the committee under oath,” said Republican State Senator Greg Dolezal. “I look forward to D.A. Willis honoring the subpoena and providing documents and testimony.”
Willis plans to fight both rulings. “We believe the ruling is wrong and will appeal,” said her attorney, former Georgia Governor Roy Barnes, who argues the Senate committee lacks authority and its demands are “overbroad.”
The Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia will now assign a new prosecutor to decide whether to continue Trump’s case. Willis’ removal marks the latest of a series of setbacks in her sprawling racketeering prosecution that alleged 161 criminal acts across seven states.
“The law is clear, and the ruling confirms what we knew all along,” Dolezal said. The Republican-led Senate committee plans to reestablish its investigation when the new legislative session begins January 13.