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Fani Willis said GOP Rep. Jim Jordan's congressional attempt to stop her prosecution of Trump is 'unconstitutional' and said he lacks 'a basic understanding of the law'

Sep 8, 2023, 00:15 IST
Business Insider
Drew Angerer/Getty Images; John Bazemore/AP Photo
  • In August, Rep. Jim Jordan helped launch a congressional inquiry into District Attorney Fani Willis.
  • She responded on Thursday in a letter, claiming Jordan lacked "a basic understanding of the law."
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Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis told GOP Rep. Jim Jordan that he lacked "a basic understanding of the law, its practice, and the ethical obligations of attorneys generally and prosecutors specifically" after he sent her a letter in late August "demanding information and communications" and helped start a congressional inquiry of her prosecution against former President Donald Trump.

In a letter obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution dated September 7, Willis officially issued her response to Jordan, telling him that he and Congress have no constitutional authority to "interfere" or obstruct her office's prosecution.

Willis and Jordan's back-and-forth comes after a Georgia grand jury indicted Trump and 18 of his allies, alleging they coordinated to try and overturn the 2020 presidential election. The charges, which were sought by Willis, include solicitation of violation of oath by a public officer and violating Georgia's RICO statute.

In her letter to Jordan, Willis said there's a very limited scope for the federal government to interfere with how states administer their own criminal laws, and that the state charges levied against Trump do not meet those high standards.

By trying to obstruct the prosecution, Willis wrote, Jordan and the House Judiciary Committee were violating the ever-heralded principles of state sovereignty, which she wrote is "offensive and will not stand."

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Believing that Jordan's RICO charge-related questions were "misinformed," Willis also suggested Jordan purchase and read a $249 law book, "RICO State-by-State."

Trump's indictment in Georgia was the fifth time he's been indicted by a state or federal grand jury. He's similarly been charged with election-related crimes in Washington, DC, as well as breaking the law in Florida and New York.

A representative for Rep. Jordan's office did not respond to Insider's request for comment.

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