Staff Reports
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has accused Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) of interfering with and obstructing her case against former President Donald Trump and his co-defendants. In a detailed nine-page response letter, Willis called out Jordan’s attempt to interfere with her prosecution as unconstitutional and reminded him that the power of congressional inquiry is not unlimited. Jordan had sent a five-page letter to Willis on August 24, informing her of an investigation into her case. However, Willis argued that the investigation was meant to punish and was an attempt to obstruct justice.
Willis further pointed out that the House investigation would violate state sovereignty and constitutional principles of federalism. She emphasized that the defendants had been charged under state law for committing state crimes, a fact that is being challenged as some defendants, including President Trump, have attempted to remove their cases to federal court.
In his letter, Jordan had questioned the political motivation behind Willis’s prosecution and expressed concern over her overstepping her jurisdiction. He cited the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which prioritizes federal law over state laws, to justify the investigation. Jordan argued that the federal government has a substantial interest in the welfare of former presidents and that politically motivated prosecutions could impact their policies while in office.
However, Willis refuted Jordan’s concerns, stating that his investigation lacked any legitimate legislative purpose. She dismissed the arguments separating federal and state jurisdictions and reminded Jordan that all defendants are entitled to equal treatment under the law. Willis recommended that Jordan obtain a better understanding of Georgia’s RICO statute and mentioned the potential consequences of defunding her office, including allowing serial rapists to go unprosecuted and canceling programs for at-risk children.
Willis ended her letter with a list of recommendations for congressional action and attached ten examples of threats her office has received, highlighting the bullying she refuses to succumb to.
