(The Center Square) – The Senate Special Committee on Investigations questioned Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis about taxpayer money spent prosecuting President Donald Trump and others in an election interference case while her attorney called the hearing a “witch hunt.”
Willis and her attorney, former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes, clashed with Vicechairman Greg Dolezal, R-Cumming, during Wednesday’s hearing over why the committee is investigating. Dolezal and Senate Minority Leader Harold Jones II, D-Augusta, were the only two who could question Willis during the hearing per the committee’s rules.
The committee, created in 2024, is tasked with inquiring about Willis’ case against Trump and 18 other defendants to see if “these allegations may show that existing state laws, including those establishing processes for selecting, hiring, and compensating special assistant district attorneys, are inadequate to address various legal and fiscal issues raised by District Attorney Willis’ alleged conduct,” according to the bill that created the study committee.
The first skirmish between Dolezal and Willis came when he asked her if she had begun interviewing people to lead an investigation into the 2020 election before she took office. Willis answered the questions against Barnes’ advice.
“That’s really an ignorant question,” Willis said. “And if you understand what the word ignorant means, it means the lack of knowledge. If you recall the facts, I was already district attorney when this all came to light so it’s factually impossible.”
Dolezal continued to press Willis, asking her if she had discussed the 2020 election investigation with Nathan Wade before taking office in 2021. Wade served as the lead prosecutor of the case. Willis was disqualified from prosecuting the case after it was revealed that she and Wade had a romantic relationship.
“Prior to you being sworn in as district attorney, is it your testimony that you did not have any conversation with Mr. Wade about investigating the 2020 election?” Dolezal asked.
“It’s a d—–s question,” Willis said to Barnes.
“I know it is but go and ahead and tell it because it occured after she took office,” Barnes said to Willis.
“I didn’t know he was going to commit a crime prior to me taking office,” Willis said. “Like factually, it’s impossible.”
Willis was referring to a phone call between Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Trump about the results of the presidential election in Georgia. President Joe Biden won Georgia narrowly.
Jones asked Willis why she took on the case.
“Because people came into my jurisdiction and they broke the law,” Willis said.
When asked about the cost of the election interference case or how much her budget is, Willis said she didn’t know. She then told the committee that district attorney’s offices were underfunded, as well as the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. When Dolezal stopped her, Barnes said Willis had the right to finish her answer.
“If you want to cite her for contempt, she is entitled to a jury trial and I can examine you on your actions and I can examine you on your motives and it would be glad to take that as Clint Eastwood would say, ‘Make my day,'” Barnes said. “This is a witch hunt, it’s always been a witch hunt.”
Willis also accused Dolezal of conducting the hearing for political gain. Dolezal and committee members Blake Tiller, R-Vidalia, and Steve Gooch, R-Dahlonega, are running for lieutenant governor. Committee Chairman Bill Cowsert, R-Athens, who did not attend the meeting, is running for state attorney general.
Peter Skandalakis, executive director of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia, appointed himself to the case after Willis was disqualified and no other prosecutor would take the case.
Skandalakis announced on Nov. 26 that he was filing a motion to dismiss the case. Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee signed the motion later that day.
Jones asked Willis if the case’s dismissal changed with what the coconspirators were doing, “based on the indictment” that said it was to “overthrow the 2020 election.
“That was the ultimate goal,” Willis said. “And we’ve had people that are supposed to be leaders instead of being leaders are just cowering down. This country needs leaders, not cowards.”
