A California man, Marc Shultz, was indicted for sending death threats to District Attorney Fani Willis, who is overseeing the prosecution of former President Donald Trump and 18 others for attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. Shultz threatened Willis in comments posted to YouTube in October 2023, including stating that she would be killed. This crime is taken seriously and will not be tolerated, as stated by U.S. Attorney Ryan Buchanan. Shultz appeared before a judge in San Diego and was released on bail, with a formal arraignment scheduled for June in Atlanta.
Fulton County leaders testified before a state Senate committee that they did not have the legal power to control Willis’ spending or her hiring decisions, including bringing in a former special prosecutor, Nathan Wade, with whom she had a romantic relationship. This hiring caused controversy, with Trump and others arguing that the relationship created a conflict of interest. Wade eventually stepped down, but Trump and other defendants are appealing a ruling that allowed Willis to continue prosecuting him as long as Wade was removed.
The case against Trump and others in Georgia was overshadowed by the details of the personal lives of the prosecutors due to the alleged conflicts of interest. Willis defended her actions, stating that her office had followed the law and procedures appropriately. She is also facing a Democratic opponent, Christian Wise Smith, in a primary election, but maintains that the legal proceedings against her are unfounded. The lawyer who initiated the effort to remove Willis claims that Wade’s firing violated state law, but officials have cited previous court rulings that give district attorneys the discretion to hire without county approval.
Fulton County officials explained that the law regarding county approval of the hiring of special prosecutors has been historically interpreted to give district attorneys autonomy in hiring decisions. Despite some disagreements on the interpretation of the law, state Sen. Bill Cowsert, the chair of the committee, suggested that changes may be made to increase county oversight over spending by state officers funded by counties. However, this proposal could pose logistical challenges for district attorneys managing funds from multiple counties, as each jurisdiction may have different requirements for approval and oversight. Some members of the committee expressed frustration with the lengthy discussions over budget details, indicating a lack of interest in pursuing further action.
