Newly released documents reveal Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis sought and received millions in Justice Department funding as her office advanced its election case against Donald Trump.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Internal correspondence released under Georgia’s Open Records Law shows that the Biden Justice Department “invited” Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to apply for a sole-source federal grant in 2022 while she was actively pursuing an election interference investigation into then-former President Donald Trump.
The records, first reported by Just the News, indicate that Willis referenced the invitation in a December 2022 letter to Justice Department Senior Policy Advisor Scott Pestridge within the Office of Justice Programs.
“I want to document your recognition of our progress and services provided with dynamic partners, as we complete sole source steps for our new grant award, a grant in which you invited us to apply,” Willis wrote.
The grant in question was part of the Justice Department’s 2022 Office of Justice Programs Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative. Federal records show Willis’ office ultimately received $2,000,000 under the program.
Although the initiative was opened in April 2022 as a competitive grant, Willis’ correspondence described the award as a “sole source” grant. The Justice Department defines a sole source procurement as noncompetitive, meaning no other entity competed for the funding.
The $2 million award was one portion of more than $18,000,000 in funding provided to the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office by the Office of Justice Programs between 2021, when Willis took office, and 2024.
A copy of the December 29, 2022 letter is available here.
The documents were released after Just the News, alongside the nonprofit law firm America First Legal, filed a lawsuit seeking access to the records. After a prolonged legal dispute in which Willis asserted privilege claims, her office ultimately dropped those claims and released the documents without redactions. The disclosure reportedly provided more material than what was furnished to congressional Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee.
Willis’ office did not respond to a request for comment.
Separate reporting by Just the News indicated that Willis’ office coordinated with the Biden Justice Department, the White House and Democrats on the House Jan. 6 committee as she built the state-level case against Trump and his allies.
Willis began serving as Fulton County District Attorney in January 2021. On February 10, 2021, she announced that she was opening a probe into alleged violations of Georgia law connected to Trump’s efforts to challenge the 2020 election results. Earlier that year, Trump had urged state officials to intervene in the certification process, claiming election irregularities.
In August 2023, Willis secured a state indictment against Trump and 18 co-defendants, including former attorney Rudy Giuliani and former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, alleging racketeering and conspiracy offenses. The indictment can be viewed here.
Days earlier, Special Counsel Jack Smith had filed a similar indictment in Washington alleging Trump defrauded the United States and attempted to obstruct an official proceeding.
Questions about the Fulton County office’s federal funding intensified after allegations emerged that Willis hired special prosecutor Nathan Wade, with whom she was later revealed to have had a romantic relationship. Court filings indicated that Wade was paid more than $600,000 in legal fees. Both Willis and Wade insisted the relationship began after his appointment, but Wade ultimately stepped down following a judicial ruling requiring his recusal.
In January 2024, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan demanded documents from Willis and Wade concerning potential coordination with the Justice Department and use of federal funds. He later issued a subpoena seeking additional records.
The Trump Justice Department also reportedly issued a subpoena for Willis’ travel records in September, according to The New York Times.
Willis was subsequently removed as the prosecutor overseeing the Georgia case after the Georgia Court of Appeals cited prosecutorial misconduct and conflict of interest concerns related to her relationship with Wade.
The case against Trump was eventually dismissed by a Georgia judge in November following Trump’s election to a second, non-consecutive term. After the dismissal, the lead prosecutor replacing Wade indicated the office would not pursue the case further, citing the difficulty of prosecuting a sitting president.
With the federal case also dropped after Trump’s election victory, the Georgia prosecution had been the final remaining legal proceeding connected to Trump’s actions during the 2020 election dispute.