ATLANTA — Republican Representative Jim Jordan announced Thursday that the House Judiciary Committee is launching an inquiry into whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis coordinated with federal officials her indictment of former President Donald Trump and 18 other defendants.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
In a letter sent to Willis, Committee Chairman Jordan demanded information of possible communications between officials with the Department of Justice and the Executive Branch.
RELATED STORIES:
- TIMELINE: Fulton County grand jury investigation into potential interference in Georgia elections
- Here’s what each defendant is charged with in Georgia election interference indictment
- Here are the bond amounts, terms for each defendant so far in Georgia election interference case
- By the numbers: What are the charges Trump is facing?
- Trump makes major change to Georgia legal team hours before expected surrender
Jordan said in the letter that the committee wants to know if Willis coordinated with federal officials including DOJ Special Counsel Jack Smith, who has indicted Trump on federal charges.
Willis has said in the past that she has had no contact with Smith.
WSB Radio’s Mark Arum spoke to Jordan via phone on Thursday morning, who said there is currently no evidence of coordination between Willis and Smith, but that his committee is “asking the questions.”
“The American people are entitled to know,” Jordan told Arum. “I think it’s important we get all the facts out there on the table for the American people and also that we do our jobs.”
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Jordan said that Willis’ indictment of Trump and his co-defendants implicates “substantial federal interests” and said that the “circumstances surrounding her actions raise serious concerns about whether such actions are politically motivated.”
“This is all supposed to be driven by state law not a question of federal authority,” Jordan said. “And did they use federal funds?”
In the letter, Jordan cites a campaign fundraising website launched by Willis, the early release of criminal charges against Trump hours before the grand jury vote and the fact that Fulton County officials say they plan to process Trump like any other criminal defendant and take his mugshot.
Jordan further went on to discuss the timing of the indictment, which comes in the middle of the Republican presidential nomination. Trump skipped the first GOP debate ahead of his planned surrender to the Fulton County Jail Thursday night.
“Moreover, you have requested that the trial in this matter begin on March 4, 2024, the day before Super Tuesday and eight days before the Georgia presidential primary,” Jordan wote. “It is therefore unsurprising many have speculated that this indictment and prosecution are designed to interfere with the 2024 presidential election.
Jordan has requested that Willis’ office provide documents and communications she had with the DOJ or officials with the Executive Branch and any related to her use of federal funds.
Read the full letter HERE: