Jim Jordan, the Chairman of the House Judiciary, has issued a warning to Fani Willis, the District Attorney of Fulton County. He has stated that she could face contempt of Congress charges if she fails to adhere to a subpoena from Congress. This subpoena is part of an investigation into how her office has been using federal funds.
In February, the House Judiciary Committee demanded documents from Willis. These documents were to shed light on how her office utilized federal funds meant to help youth at risk. ABC News managed to get a copy of this subpoena.
Jim Jordan expressed his concerns in a letter. He mentioned that despite Willis indicating more documents would be sent, the committee has not received any additional information for three weeks following her initial response. Jordan emphasized the importance of receiving all documents related to the subpoena by March 28, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. He warned that failure to comply could lead to further actions, including possible contempt of Congress proceedings.
The committee is keen on obtaining documents that detail the receipt and expenditure of federal grant funds from the Department of Justice. They are also interested in any documents or communications that suggest there might have been misuse of these federal funds.
Jordan has set a strict deadline of March 28. He cautioned that not meeting this deadline could prompt Congress to take additional steps, possibly leading to contempt of Congress proceedings.
The subpoena highlights concerns over Willis’s office allegedly planning to use a portion of a $488,000 federal grant, which was earmarked for creating a Center of Youth Empowerment and Gang Prevention, on expenses that were not related to the grant’s intended purpose.
This situation arises while Willis is also facing separate scrutiny regarding her relationship with a top prosecutor in the case against former President Donald Trump and 18 others for Georgia election interference.
Willis has defended her use of the federal funds in response to the subpoena. She stated that the federal grant programs under her watch are aimed at assisting at-risk youth and addressing sexual assault cases that have been overlooked for too long. She highlighted the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, which has been recognized by the United States Attorney General as a model program.
Willis assured that her grant programs are effective and comply with all Department of Justice requirements. She emphasized that any review would confirm their cooperation and compliance with the Department of Justice.
The Judiciary Committee’s broader investigation into Willis’s use of federal funds also encompasses her investigation into the former president. Trump has denied all charges related to the election probe.