Published on April 11, 2024, 12:27 am

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has uncovered “inconsistencies” linked to the application of federal grant funds utilized by the District Attorney’s office in Fulton County, under Fani Willis. The discrepancies surfaced two years subsequent to Willis’ dismissal of a whistleblower, who forewarned Willis about an intended misuse of nearly half a million dollars. These funds, federally granted for a youth gang prevention initiative, were instead projected to be used for purchasing branded merchandise, Mac Book computers or funding travel.

Amanda Timpson, who held the position of Grant Director at that time, disclosed the alleged misappropriation of funds. According to Timpson, her employment was terminated by Willis abruptly and without prior notice—less than two months following her report against the planned misuse of funds. Timpson also attested to being escorted out of her office premises by armed personnel and eventually lodged a whistleblower complaint implicating wrongful termination.

The use of these grant funds was originally intended for establishing a Center for Youth Empowerment and Gang Prevention in Atlanta. Despite that aspiration and although the grant ended in September 2023, no such center was ever opened.

According to DOJ’s Office of Justice Programs, discrepancies in reporting from Willis’ office marred this $488k federal grant—the same amount warned about by Timpson. Ostensibly contradictory statements over allocation by Willis’ office initially suppressed these errors until they were later exposed by federal authorities.

Presently, while attempting rectifications in reporting “inconsistencies”, the DOJ confers with Willis’ office amid an active investigation courtesy House Judiciary Committee probing into Willis’ usage of these federal grant monies.

Early February saw Committee Chairman Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH) issuing subpoenas requiring Willis’ provision of records connected to the said grant as well as allegations made by whistleblower Timpson.

In response to Jordan’s letter demanding those records, Willis contended that Jordan’s requests were unprecedented and unreasonable, potentially necessitating an unfortunate diversion of resources from their primary task—prosecuting crime.

Diverging disgraces have also trailed Willis when the use of public monies came under scrutiny in the high-profile RICO trial against ex-President Donald Trump initiated by her office. Amid this storm, a prior romantic liaison with the special prosecutor Nathan Wade brought additional controversy to her doorstep.

Scott McAfee, Judge of Fulton County Superior Court, noted an “odor of mendacity” that lingered after weeks of public hearings encompassing Willis’ relationship with Wade. This led to Wade’s subsequent resignation recommended by McAfee in his orders.

With disparaging public testimonies and contradictory versions on federal grants utilization not forgotten nor resolved and responses lacking substance to Congressional subpoenas still considered, a cloud hangs over Fani Willis’ fiduciary behavior within Fulton County. Ultimately, trusted news reporting emphasizes on delivering real news to readers in order to foster educated discussions fostering a Christian worldview.