The Georgia State Senate passed a bill on Tuesday that will strike the need for the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission (PAQC) to have its rules reviewed and approved by the Georgia Supreme Court, which would allow it to immediately begin investigating prosecutors, including embattled Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
Introduced by Senator State Randy Robertson (R-Cataula) in early January, SB 332 would amend the 2022 law establishing the PAQC to strike the requirement for the commission to have its standards and rules reviewed and adopted by the Georgia Supreme Court. It now goes to the Georgia House and, if passed, would become law as soon as Governor Brian Kemp signs it.
The change to the law enabling the PAQC became necessary after the Georgia Supreme Court ruled in December 2023 that it would not accept or approve the commission’s rules, citing the lack of a “legal directive to take action.”
Kemp previously suggested he would like to see the existing law amended by the Georgia General Assembly as his preferred method to investigate Willis, declaring in January he was “focused on fixing the law we’ve got.”
Willis recently admitted to having a personal relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, whom she appointed to oversee her case against former President Donald Trump, and has compensated more than $650,000 in taxpayer money.
It is additionally alleged by Michael Roman, a co-defendant of Trump who first raised allegations about Willis and Wade, that the district attorney has financially benefited from Wade’s appointment in the form of luxurious vacations and gifts.
Roman additionally claims Willis and Wade have lived together at various times, including at a taxpayer-funded safe house established for their relationship.
In a filing made after Willis’ initial response, Roman’s attorneys also suggested they could provide witness testimony or other evidence that Wade and Willis began a romantic relationship in 2019.
The possible change to the PAQC would allow Willis to be investigated by another body after the Georgia State Senate authorized a committee to investigate the allegations against her.
Willis also faces multiple criminal referrals, a complaint with the Georgia State Bar, a request for information from Fulton County Commissioner Bob Ellis, a lawsuit over her alleged refusal to comply with open records requests, and her need to respond to Roman’s claims in court on February 15, when she may be subpoenaed to testify.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Fanni Willis” by Fulton County District Attorney’s Office.
