Republican lawmakers in Georgia are working on ways to sanction Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, the prosecutor who brought criminal charges against former President Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants, including the use of a new state law that creates a commission that can punish or throw out prosecutors.
The Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission will begin proceedings in October, and comes after GOP Gov. Brian Kemp signed the measure into law earlier this year to form a board that will punish prosecutors they determine are committing violations or neglecting their job duties, reports The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
State Sen. Clint Dixon, R-Gwinnett County, said Monday he plans to file a complaint against Willis when the commission goes into effect in October, and claimed that the indictments against Trump and the others were the result of her "unabashed goal to become some sort of leftist celebrity."
"Once the Prosecutorial Oversight Committee is appointed in October, we can have them investigate and take action against Fani Willis and her efforts that weaponize the justice system against political opponents," Dixon said on social media. "This is our best measure and I will be ready to call for that investigation."
Willis and Democrat leaders warned that such scenarios would happen during debate on the law, which passed along party lines amid a push by Kemp and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, a Trump supporter who was endorsed by the former president last year during his candidacy.
Democrat Rep. Dar'shun Kendrick warned during the debate on the bill that it could be used against Willis and said Monday she is not surprised by Dixon's threats.
"The irony, as I see it, is that DA Willis has to do her very best to prosecute those involved in the interference case in Georgia," she said Monday. "Otherwise, she may be subject to removal by this commission."
Meanwhile, other Republican lawmakers are pushing efforts to reprimand Willis, including state Sen. Colton Moore, who last week called for a special legislative session to investigate her. The effort needs support from Democrats, so it may not proceed.
In addition, state GOP leaders are saying they will block pro-Trump efforts on changing the state pardon system so it will be easier to pardon him if he's convicted.
Other Republican lawmakers, in addition, are drafting a statement that will condemn Willis for using her office to investigate Trump.
Willis declined to comment about the commission, but earlier this year called the bill racist when arguing against it during a state Senate hearing.
She also called in a Republican response to the 2020 election, which resulted in the number of minority district attorneys in Georgia growing from five to 14.
According to state law, Georgia lawmakers can impeach district attorneys, and there are other checks on prosecutors, including elections and recall provisions that allow voters to decide at the ballot box.
However, supporters of the incoming commission say the existing laws about prosecutors are not strong enough, including almost two dozen district attorneys from rural parts of the state who signed a letter to back the law.
Even though the commission will start hearing complaints in October, it is expected that it will take months to reprimand anyone, as a five-member panel will investigate the complaints and decide if they warrant formal charges and a separate three-person panel will be issuing the orders and opinions.