Leaked audio recordings have surfaced revealing yet another scandalous situation within the office of Fani Willis. The whistleblower, identified as Amanda Timpson, is heard providing Willis with a detailed account of misconduct by Michael Cuffee, Willis’ top aide, regarding the misuse of federal funds. The recording dates back to 2021.
Timpson, in the audio, bravely voices her concerns about Cuffee’s attempts to divert grant money for purposes entirely unrelated to their intended use, including the acquisition of ‘MacBooks, swag, and travel expenses.’
Timpson’s insistence on compliance and her efforts to question the feasibility of Cuffee’s plans were met with severe repercussions, as she described, “when I questioned him, he took me off of projects, because I questioned him.”
The situation escalated when Timpson reached out directly to Willis, only to find her vigilance used against her. Cuffee gave an ominous warning to Timpson, saying, “You think your word is safe. When you reached out to Ms. Willis, she called me and told me everything. So once you reach out to her, she’s going to reach back out to me,” effectively isolating Timpson from seeking help within the organization.
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The so-called “perp walk” of Timpson out of the office not only ended her tenure but also signaled a grave message about the consequences of whistleblowing within Willis’ administration. Michael Cuffee, who had previously served as Willis’ social media manager during her 2020 campaign and was publicly thanked in her victory speech, left the DA’s office in December 2021 citing “personal” reasons.
Willis, the Fulton County District Attorney, is known for her involvement in the investigation into former President Donald Trump’s actions in Georgia regarding the 2020 election.
The investigation focused on a phone call Trump made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on January 2, 2021, in which Trump reportedly urged Raffensperger to “find” enough votes to overturn his election loss in the state. The investigation is part of broader legal challenges and inquiries Trump faces, related to his actions before and after the 2020 election.
Earlier on Wednesday, Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor led by Willis, resolved his divorce, sidestepping potential testimony about rumored romantic involvement with Willis. This comes ahead of a contentious hearing, which also threatened to involve Willis over allegations of a secret relationship with Wade. A co-defendant in Trump’s Georgia election interference case sought to have the district attorney’s office dismissed on claims of bias, urging the unsealing of divorce records.
Reports have highlighted Wade’s expected interrogation regarding his finances, including a significant salary from Willis’ office and plane tickets expensed for him and Willis. However, the settlement is temporary, and could eventually unravel; additionally, a hearing on February 15 will still consider the potential dismissal of Willis and Wade from a related case against Michael Roman, a former Trump campaign staffer.
The situation has attracted attention from political figures, including Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and the Georgia State Senate, with investigations into Willis’ conduct and the implications of her alleged relationship with Wade on the legal actions against Trump. Despite the controversy, Willis has publicly addressed her critics without directly responding to the affair allegations. Ashleigh Merchant, representing Roman, intends to pursue the sealed divorce records, which she believes could vindicate her client.