At least one Fulton County commissioner, Fani Willis, is accused of misusing public funds in appointing her boyfriend to serve as special prosecutor against former President Donald Trump, according to the Daily Caller News. is advocating for a budget increase for the district attorney's office. The Foundation has learned.
The Fulton County Commission will review the county's 2024 budget. meeting On Wednesday, at least one commissioner is expected to propose increasing funding for district attorneys, according to proposals reviewed by DCNF.was suggested budget As of Jan. 10, the fiscal year 2024 budget includes $36.6 million for the district attorney's office, but Commissioner Natalie Hall's proposal would add an additional $9.7 million. (Related: Exclusive: Fulton County Commissioner asks Fannie Willis for information on alleged 'misuse' of county funds)
Trump's co-defendants allege in the motion that Willis gave her alleged lover, Nathan Wade, “lucrative” contracts without commissioner approval and used funds from the position to pay for her trips and vacations. He claimed that he was making a profit by taking him to Japan. Bank statements included in Wade's divorce filing Friday showed that Wade purchased two plane tickets in Willis' name to Miami and San Francisco.
“Despite the dire doubts, we plan to approve the 2024 budget on Wednesday,” Commissioner Bridget Thorne told DCNF. “Secretary Dana Barrett is proposing to add more than $4 million to the DA’s budget. Commissioner Natalie Hall and Commissioner Marvin Arrington are proposing to add $9.7 million to her budget. There is.”
Barrett's proposal was not received.
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The additional budget proposed by Hall's enhancements includes $2.2 million to bring 74 employees to Project Orca (a project to resolve the backlog of cases related to COVID-19) through September 2024. $1.84 million for “10 lawyers” and $732,792 for “seven investigators.” The proposal states $542,868 for a paid internship program and $4.4 million for “operating funds.”
The 2023 budget included $41.6 a million To the District Attorney's Office.
Fulton County Commissioner Bob Ellis on Friday provided Willis with information regarding possible “misuse” of county funds in the appointment of Wade, who has earned about $654,000 per county from the county since 2022. requested disclosure. data.
“For nearly six months, I have been asking questions about the prosecutor's office's hiring of outside counsel,” Thorne said. “My name is Nathan J. Wade. [Bondurant] Hard. We don't have an answer, but we will continue to investigate.”
In public remarks at Big Bethel AME Church, Willis falsely stated that he paid the same hourly rate to all three special prosecutors assigned to the case. According to contracts and invoices obtained by DCNF, Wade's hourly wage was set at $250 an hour, while John Floyd, known as one of the state's top extortion experts, was making an hourly wage as of May 2023. It was only $200.
“I oppose any additional funding being allocated to the DA. I will not support the budget if it includes DA funding,” Thorne continued.
Hall did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The remaining members of the board also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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