March 8th 2024.
The Fulton County Board of Ethics recently made an important announcement regarding their jurisdiction. According to the board, they do not have the power to handle any complaints against Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. This is due to the fact that she holds the position of a state constitutional officer, rather than a county official.
Initially, the board had a meeting scheduled for March 7, but it was suddenly canceled. In their official statement, the board clarified the reason for the cancellation and the new information that came to light. They stated, "The Fulton County Board of Ethics lacks the authority to investigate any Ethics Complaint against Fani T. Willis. As a result, any ethics complaint against a district attorney, regardless of the county, falls under the jurisdiction of the State Ethics Commission."
Furthermore, the board explained that Willis, like all district attorneys, is an elected state constitutional officer who is part of the judicial branch of the state government. This is in accordance with the Fulton County Code of Ethics, which specifically applies to county officers and employees. The statement went on to clarify that Willis does not fall under the definition of a "county officer" as stated in the ethics code.
The reason behind this announcement stems from the recent attention on Willis, following a complaint filed by Michael Roman, a co-defendant in the Georgia election interference case. Roman requested for Willis to be disqualified, alleging that she had an improper relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, who was hired to prosecute former President Trump. This sparked a series of events, including two complaints submitted by Fulton County residents Gregory Mantell and Steven Kramer regarding financial matters.
Mantell's complaint was related to Willis allegedly refusing to release invoices paid to Wade, while Kramer's complaint focused on the distribution of county funds by Willis' office. In his complaint, Kramer stated, "The additional resources and financial costs for the court and the district attorney's office, both paid for by Fulton County taxpayers like me, are a direct result of this inappropriate relationship." These complaints were expected to be heard at the canceled meeting, and even Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene expressed her anticipation for the outcome, as she had two pending ethics complaints against Willis.
Although Willis may have avoided a potential fine of $1,000, she is not completely in the clear just yet. She still faces scrutiny from a Georgia Senate legislative committee and Trump's defense team. The committee held its first hearing on March 6, presided over by Judge Scott McAfee, and is expected to make a ruling on Willis' disqualification in the coming weeks. This adds to the growing controversy surrounding Willis and her alleged affair with Wade, leading to calls for her disbarment.
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