The Republican-led House Judiciary Committee is expected to open a congressional investigation into Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis as soon as Thursday, a source tells CNN – the same day former President Donald Trump is slated to surrender at the county jail after being charged for participating in schemes to meddle with Georgia’s 2020 election results.

The committee is expected to ask Willis whether she was coordinating with the Justice Department, which has indicted Trump twice in two separate cases, or used federal dollars to complete her investigation that culminated in the fourth indictment of Trump, the source added. The anticipated questions from Republicans about whether Willis used federal funding in her state-level investigation mirrors the same line of inquiry that Republicans used to probe Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who indicted Trump in New York for falsifying business records to cover up an alleged hush money scheme.

Meanwhile, Georgia Republicans could launch their own state-level investigation into Willis’ probe, according to GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who has spoken to top officials in the state about a potential probe. She has also been pushing for a congressional-led inquiry into Willis, who has previously dismissed GOP accusations accusing her of being partisan and consistently defended her investigation.

“I’m going to be talking to (House Judiciary Chair) Jim Jordan, (House Oversight Chair) Jamie Comer, and I’d like to also ask (Speaker) Kevin McCarthy his thoughts on looking at doing an investigation if there is a collaboration or conspiracy of any kind between the Department of Justice and Jack Smith’s special counsel’s office with the state DA’s,” Greene told CNN. “So, I think that could be a place of oversight.”

It all amounts to a familiar playbook for House Republicans, who have been quick to try to use their congressional majority – which includes the ability to launch investigations, issue subpoenas and restrict funding – to defend the former president and offer up some counter programming amid his mounting legal battles. But they’ve also run into some resistance in their extraordinary efforts to intervene in ongoing criminal matters, while there are questions about what jurisdiction they have over state-level investigations.

  • Nougat@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    The committee is expected to ask Willis whether she was coordinating with the Justice Department, …

    And they’re going to try and color a totally normal thing to do as somehow nefarious.

    • lowdownfool@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      It’s okay, the GOP hates you, anyone not-GOP, and any Republican not absolutely loyal to the insurrectionists and stop-the-steal liars.

  • Jaysyn@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    while there are questions about what jurisdiction they have over state-level investigations.

    This is false #CNN. The lawyers that you should have spoken with about this would have told you that this is settled law & the answer is “very little”.

    The #fascist #GOP has already made it clear that Congressional whatevers are now optional.

    They are going to get hit with State Obstruction of Justice charges, though. Bet.

  • HandsHurtLoL@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    I bet they’re going to subpoena her for a hearing the day-of or after the start of the Fulton trial just to delay the trial for Trump and then maybe he can cry unfair that his constitutional right to a speedy trial was violated.

    Why do they still carry water for this goon?

  • JelloBrains@kbin.socialOP
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    1 year ago

    For anyone playing along, CNN reports the House Committee has sent a letter demanding documents about the case.

    House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan sent Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis a letter requesting a slew of documents by September 7, confirming CNN’s exclusive reporting that the panel was opening an investigation into Willis.

    In the letter, Jordan lays out why he believes his panel has jurisdiction over Willis’ probe and accuses Willis of being politically motivated.

    “Your indictment and prosecution implicate substantial federal interests, and the circumstances surrounding your actions raise serious concerns about whether they are politically motivated,” Jordan writes.

  • BraveSirZaphod@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    I thought Republicans were strong supporters of states’ rights and their freedom and independence from interference by the federal government.

    Curious!

  • SlowNPC@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    “Sure, our guy is indicted for dozens of serious crimes you saw him commit on TV, but all their people are under investigation. Best not look into it too deep, conclude they’re all corrupt, and keep voting for the party that reinforces your prejudices.”