The whistleblower
The Justice Department revealed discrepancies in how Fulton County Prosecutor Fani Willis utilized federal grant funds, substantiating claims made by a whistleblower. The whistleblower, who accused the Fulton County office of mismanaging $488,000 in federal grant funds for expenses like "swag," computers, and travel, was previously terminated by Willis.
Reporting discrepancies
“It’s that same grant that the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs now says is plagued with reporting discrepancies from Willis’s office,” the Washington Free Beacon’s Andrew Kerr reported.
The discrepancies
The Justice Department has not elaborated on the specifics of the discrepancies reported by Willis regarding the $488,000 federal grant designated for establishing a Center for Youth Empowerment and Gang Prevention in Atlanta. Despite the grant concluding in September 2023, the center never became operational.
Grant reporting inconsistencies
In conjunction with Willis's office, the Justice Department is working to address the grant reporting inconsistencies while a House Judiciary Committee investigation into Willis's handling of federal grant funds is ongoing.
Rep. Jim Jordan
Rep. Jim Jordan (R., Ohio), the committee chairman, issued a subpoena to Willis in early February for documentation related to the $488,000 federal grant and the whistleblower claims brought forth by former Willis employee Amanda Timpson, who served as the grant director until her abrupt dismissal by the district attorney in January 2022.
Contempt of Congress
On March 14, Jordan warned of the possibility of holding Willis in contempt of Congress after she replied to his subpoena with a limited set of documents unrelated to Timpson's whistleblower claims.
Unreasonable and unorthodox
In her response, Willis criticized Jordan's demands as "unreasonable and unorthodox," insinuating that his inquiry was an attempt to obstruct her case involving election interference against former President Donald Trump.
Examination
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department of Justice acknowledged to the Beacon that discrepancies were identified during their examination of Willis's office.
Some inconsistencies
“During our review of the award to respond to this inquiry, we have noticed some inconsistencies in what Fulton County has reported to [the Federal Subaward Reporting System] and we are working with them to update their reporting accordingly,” the spokeswoman said.
Use of federal funds
The examination of Willis' use of federal funds is the most recent controversy affecting her office as she pursues the prosecution of former President Donald Trump.
The Trump case
In March, Willis' former romantic partner and colleague, Nathan Wade, stepped down from the Trump case, providing a political win for the former president.
Conflict of interest
Despite allegations of a conflict of interest due to their past relationship, Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee determined that there was no tangible conflict necessitating Willis' removal from the case.
Democratic operative
Reports emerged in February suggesting that the Biden administration had placed a Democratic operative within a Fulton County office to target Trump.
2024 presidential election
If these claims are accurate, it could strongly indicate that the administration interfered in the 2024 presidential election.
The Justice Department revealed discrepancies in how Fulton County Prosecutor Fani Willis utilized federal grant funds, substantiating claims made by a whistleblower. The whistleblower, who accused the Fulton County office of mismanaging $488,000 in federal grant funds for expenses like "swag," computers, and travel, was previously terminated by Willis.
Reporting discrepancies
“It’s that same grant that the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs now says is plagued with reporting discrepancies from Willis’s office,” the Washington Free Beacon’s Andrew Kerr reported.
The discrepancies
The Justice Department has not elaborated on the specifics of the discrepancies reported by Willis regarding the $488,000 federal grant designated for establishing a Center for Youth Empowerment and Gang Prevention in Atlanta. Despite the grant concluding in September 2023, the center never became operational.
Grant reporting inconsistencies
In conjunction with Willis's office, the Justice Department is working to address the grant reporting inconsistencies while a House Judiciary Committee investigation into Willis's handling of federal grant funds is ongoing.
Rep. Jim Jordan
Rep. Jim Jordan (R., Ohio), the committee chairman, issued a subpoena to Willis in early February for documentation related to the $488,000 federal grant and the whistleblower claims brought forth by former Willis employee Amanda Timpson, who served as the grant director until her abrupt dismissal by the district attorney in January 2022.
Contempt of Congress
On March 14, Jordan warned of the possibility of holding Willis in contempt of Congress after she replied to his subpoena with a limited set of documents unrelated to Timpson's whistleblower claims.
Unreasonable and unorthodox
In her response, Willis criticized Jordan's demands as "unreasonable and unorthodox," insinuating that his inquiry was an attempt to obstruct her case involving election interference against former President Donald Trump.
Examination
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department of Justice acknowledged to the Beacon that discrepancies were identified during their examination of Willis's office.
Some inconsistencies
“During our review of the award to respond to this inquiry, we have noticed some inconsistencies in what Fulton County has reported to [the Federal Subaward Reporting System] and we are working with them to update their reporting accordingly,” the spokeswoman said.
Use of federal funds
The examination of Willis' use of federal funds is the most recent controversy affecting her office as she pursues the prosecution of former President Donald Trump.
The Trump case
In March, Willis' former romantic partner and colleague, Nathan Wade, stepped down from the Trump case, providing a political win for the former president.
Conflict of interest
Despite allegations of a conflict of interest due to their past relationship, Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee determined that there was no tangible conflict necessitating Willis' removal from the case.
Democratic operative
Reports emerged in February suggesting that the Biden administration had placed a Democratic operative within a Fulton County office to target Trump.
2024 presidential election
If these claims are accurate, it could strongly indicate that the administration interfered in the 2024 presidential election.
