ATLANTA — The six Republican and three Democratic state Senators tasked with investigating allegations of misconduct against Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis have been named.
The members were appointed Monday after Senate Republicans passed a resolution creating the Senate Special Committee on Investigations last week, 30-19. No Democrat voted in favor of the resolution.
The legislation was created after Willis was accused of engaging in an improper romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade and misusing taxpayer funds. Records submitted in Wade's ongoing divorce proceedings in Cobb County allege that he purchased airline tickets for Willis to San Francisco and Miami, among other items. Wade also paid for hotels and cruises around the same time, but it's unclear if Willis was with him.
Recently unsealed records reviewed by 11Alive offered no further proof of the alleged romance. Neither Willis nor Wade have directly addressed the allegations.
The senators on the committee are:
- Bill Cowsert, (R-Athens)
- Greg Dolezal, (R-Cumming)
- Jason Esteves, (D-Atlanta)
- John F. Kennedy, (R-Macon)
- Blake Tillery, (R-Vidalia)
- Harold Jones II, (D-Augusta)
- Bo Hatchett, (R-Cornelia)
- Steve Gooch, (R-Dahlonega)
- Gloria Butler, (D-Stone Mountain)
Cowsert will serve as the committee's chair. Dolezal, who authored the legislation, will serve as vice chair.
"The multitude of accusations surrounding Ms. Willis, spanning from allegations of prosecutorial misconduct to questions about the use of public funds and accusations of an unprofessional relationship, underscores the urgency for a thorough and impartial examination. We owe it to the public to ensure transparency, accountability and the preservation of the integrity of our justice system," Dolezal said in a statement last week when he introduced the resolution.
The newly-created panel lacks the ability to sanction Willis. However, the nine state senators can call witnesses under oath and collect evidence as part of its investigation. The committee could produce a report at the end of its investigation that features proposed changes to state law or budgeting.
Georgia Republicans are also considering another measure that could be used to discipline Willis.
The Georgia House of Representatives passed legislation Monday to allow a panel to begin overseeing state prosecutors. The new bill, HB 881, removes a requirement that the rules of the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission be approved by the Georgia Supreme Court.
The commission was created last year and challenged in court. The state Supreme Court refused to adopt the rules, saying it had "grave doubts" that it had the constitutional power to do so.
Under the bill, prosecutors could be disciplined and removed from office for willful misconduct and "the willful and persistent failure to carry out duties," among other items. The new bill must still be approved by the state Senate and signed by Gov. Brian Kemp.