Fani Willis once again cries racism — this time smearing investigators looking into her possible misconduct



Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has an apparent tendency of ascribing race-based antipathies to her critics. Willis leaned once more into the trend when campaigning for re-election on "The Rachel Maddow Show" Monday, while also casting doubt on the legitimacy of her scrutineers.

Willis questions elected officials' legitimacy

The titular talking head of the MSNBC show cited a recent op-ed in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution penned by three Democratic lawmakers in Georgia, which suggested that the recent efforts to hold Willis accountable for alleged misconduct are instead an effort to "tarnish Willis' reputation, delegitimize the judicial process and the rule of law, and distract from the substantive facts of the case."

The op-ed also called the allegations so far raised against Willis "dubious," despite even Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee acknowledging the Democratic prosecutor's "bad choices," her "tremendous lapse in judgment," her "legally improper" remarks, and her prosecutions' encumbrance "by an appearance of impropriety."

Maddow said, "This strikes me very close to my heart because I feel like this is one of the first times I've seen people stand up for you on this point."

Maddow then asked Willis whether she agreed with her fellow Democrats' assessment that she was a noble victim.

"Well, as you know — let's start with the federal government and Jim Jordan. Jim Jordan has time after time after time attacked my office with no legitimate purpose," said Willis. "Anyone who knows Jim Jordan's history knows that he only has the purpose of trying to interfere in a criminal investigation."

Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) launched a legitimate inquiry into the alleged collusion between Willis and the Jan. 6 Committee in December 2023.

Willis, facing off Tuesday against fellow leftist Christian Wise Smith in the Democratic primary, told Maddow that she has complied with subpoenas from the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, even though she reportedlydragged her feet on producing requested documents regarding her office's use of federal funds in March, such that Jordan felt compelled to threaten her with contempt of Congress.

Willis, whose supporters concern-mongered in the Journal-Constitution about delegitimizing efforts, said Jordan was "illegitimate in his position and it's disgusting."

'They are trying to attack me at every level.'

"Now at the state level, they've decided to follow this clown's lead," continued Willis. "And they want to now try to interfere in an investigation and it's not legitimate either."

Contrary to Willis' suggestion, the Georgia Senate Special Committee is also legitimate, having been approved by the democratically elected members of the Georgia state Senate in January and tasked with investigating Willis for possible misconduct.

"They are trying to attack me at every level," said Willis, before launching into a brief campaign speech and preemptively belittling the Republican candidate for the DA's post, Courtney Kramer.

Maddow thanked Willis for dealing with "slings and arrows."

'Racially charged'

Extra to casting doubt on the legitimacy of official investigations, Willis insinuated criticism of her was racially motivated.

"Georgia had never had a prosecutorial oversight committee," Willis told Rachel Maddow. "All of a sudden, 14 minorities were elected to office to serve as district attorney. And now all of a sudden they need an oversight committee to look after district attorneys because they want to tell us how to prosecute and who to prosecute and where we should put our resources, as opposed to allowing the voters that put us in these seats to make those determinations."

'But apparently we now need daddy to tell us how to do our job.'

"Most of the population has elected these minority DAs to serve them and has trusted their judgment," continued Willis. "But apparently we now need daddy to tell us how to do our job."

Willis made a similar claim earlier this month, telling reporters, "Isn't it interesting when we got a bunch of African American DAs, now we need a daddy to tell us what to do?"

Willis' intimation that race played a factor in the formation of the oversight committee is hardly the first time she has projected racism where there was ostensibly none.

Earlier this year, Steve Sadow, the lead lawyer for former President Donald Trump in his Georgia election interference case, pressed Willis' team after they failed to respond to his emails. Daysha Young, an executive district attorney in Fulton County, initially responded by writing that she and Willis "are both aware, especially as an African American woman some find it difficult to treat us respectfully."

Sadow said Young's comments were "offensive, uncalled for and untrue."

Willis weighed into the email chain saying, "In the legal community (and the world at large) some people will never be able to respect African Americans and/or women as their equal and counterpart."

"Some are so used to doing it they are not even aware they are doing it while others are intentional in their continued disrespect," added Willis.

Blaze News previously reported that in a Jan. 14 address to a congregation at Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Willis suggested that critiques of her leadership and hiring decisions were motivated not by concerns over fairness, lawfulness, or conflicts of interest but by hate — specifically, racial animus.

"They call me the N-word more than they call me Fani," said Willis. "[God,] you did not tell me as a woman of color it would not matter what I did. My motive, my talent, my ability, and my character would be constantly attacked."

According to Willis, those who criticized her appointing her lover as special prosecutor in the Trump case were "playing the race card."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

More bad news for Fani Willis: Disqualification is back on the menu and state investigators are drilling deep



Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is not only running for re-election but ostensibly running away from accountability over her various alleged improprieties. If the last several days have provided any indication, then Willis may be headed for a stumble.

Friday

"This is really messing up my business," said Willis.

The Georgia Senate Special Committee that was approved in January to investigate allegations of misconduct on Willis' part began drilling deeper Friday into the Democrat's use of taxpayer funds. The Washington Examiner indicated that there were various signs in the over four-hour hearing that lawmakers are determined to fully understand the Fulton County District Attorney Office's expenditures and prosecution of Trump.

This penetrating scrutiny appears to have struck a nerve with Willis, who told local news, "Isn't it interesting when we got a bunch of African American DAs, now we need a daddy to tell us what to do?"

"This is really messing up my business," continued Willis. "They can look all they want."

The committee appears keen to shift from looking to listening.

Republican state Sen. Bill Cowswet told WSB-TV that the special committee will subpoena the Democratic DA should she fail to appear voluntarily and explain herself.

Monday

On Monday, Willis indicated that — just as she didn't bother to show up to debate her political opponent last month — she may similarly attempt to ghost the state Senate committee.

"First of all, I don't even think they have the authority to subpoena me," said Willis. "But they need to learn the law."

Willis added, "I will not appear to anything that is unlawful, and I have not broken the law in any way. I’ve said it, you know, I’ll say it amongst these leaders, I’m sorry folks get pissed off that everybody gets treated equally."

Wednesday

On Wednesday, the Court of Appeals for the State of Georgia put the possibility of Willis' disqualification from former President Donald Trump's election interference case back on the table.

Willis, who has described herself as the "face of the feminist movement," has been scrutinized for months over accusations of "systematic misconduct" and various other improprieties.

Blaze News previously reported that Ashleigh Merchant, an attorney for Trump co-defendant Michael Roman, filed a Jan. 8 motion to disqualify, claiming Willis was ethically compromised by her "improper, clandestine personal relationship" with Nathan Wade.

Willis hired Wade the day after he filed for divorce from his wife. Contrary to the DA's suggestion in court, their romantic relationship allegedly preceded the appointment by at least several months.

In the months that followed, Willis was targeted with additional disqualification motions accusing her of prejudicing potential jurors with racially charged commentary, conflict of interest, misusing public monies, coordinating with the Biden White House, giving Wade preferential treatment, and of possibly running afoul of the federal racketeering statute.

The effort to oust Willis from the case came to a head on March 15 when Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, also running for re-election, ruled that the Democrat could continue overseeing the case so long as Wade resigned his post as special prosecutor.

Wade bowed out, but the defense was not satisfied — particularly since the judge acknowledged Willis' "unprofessional manner" during the evidentiary hearing, her "bad choices," her "tremendous lapse in judgment," her "legally improper" remarks, and the prosecutions encumbrance "by an appearance of impropriety."

McAfee permitted Trump and several of his co-defendants to appeal his ruling, which they did in late March.

The appeals court granted Trump's application for interlocutory appeal this week, meaning it will take up McAfee's ruling — a move the Associated Press suggested will likely delay Trump's case beyond the November election. After all, whoever loses the case could ask the Georgia Supreme Court to decide Willis' fate.

Professor Ryan Goodman, former special counsel to the general counsel of the Pentagon, alternatively suggested that the revitalized disqualification battle "might not delay matters," citing McAfee's suggestion in his order granting the petition that the "Court intends to continue addressing the many other unrelated pending pretrial motions, regardless of whether the petition is granted."

Unless Trump requests and gets a stay, the Georgia appeals court considering his effort to disqualify DA Fani Willis might not delay matters.\n\nTrial Judge McAfee in his order granting petition to appeal: "The Court intends to continue addressing the many other unrelated pending\u2026
— (@)

Thursday

The U.S. House Judiciary Committee appears to also be closing in on Willis. Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) launched an inquiry into the alleged collusion between Willis and the Jan. 6 Committee in December 2023.

On Thursday, Jordan asked Nathan Wade to appear for an interview and to produce various documents pertaining to his former employment with the Fulton County District Attorney's Office.

"There are serious concerns about your role in the politically motivated prosecution initiated by Ms. Willis against President Donald J. Trump. You have reportedly 'profit[ed] significantly' from M. Willis's prosecution, with unsealed court filings alleging that you have been paid 'almost seven hundred thousand dollars ($700,000) [from the FCDAO] since May of 2022 alone,'" Jordan noted in his letter to Wade.

"The committee understands that Ms. Willis reportedly compensated you and financed her politically motivated prosecution using a mixture of taxpayer funds, possibly including part of the $14.6 million in federal grant funds that her office received from the Department of Justice between 2020 and 2023," added Jordan.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution indicated that Wade's attorney could not be reached for comment but that he previously claimed he had done nothing wrong.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Fani Willis isn't out of the woods yet: Trump's attorney seeks to appeal judge's disqualification ruling



Judge Scott McAfee decided against disqualifying Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis last week from former President Donald Trump's election interference case in Georgia. Instead, he required that either the Democrat or her lover, special prosecutor Nathan Wade, step down.

Wade ultimately fell on his sword, resigning just hours after the Fulton County Superior Court judge's decision. This may have satisfied the judge, but the defense figured Willis still deserved the boot.

Signaling a potential continuation of Willis' disqualification saga, Steve Sadow filed a motion on behalf of Trump and his codefendants Monday, requesting that McAfee grant a certificate of immediate review of the court's March 15 order to the Georgia Court of Appeals.

Background

Blaze News previously reported that while McAfee did not ultimately disqualify Willis on March 15, he did suggest that when confronted with the details of her affair with Wade, as alleged by the defendants, "a prima facie argument arises of financial enrichment and improper motivations which inevitably and unsurprisingly invites a motion such as this."

McAfee ultimately found that there was insufficient evidence that Willis "acquired a personal stake in the prosecution, or that her financial arrangements had any impact on the case."

He did, however, suggest that the lack of a "confirmed financial split [between Willis and Wade] creates the possibility and appearance that the District Attorney benefited — albeit non-materially — from a contract whose award lay solely within her purview and policing."

McAfee also blasted Willis for her "tremendous lapse in judgment," the "unprofessional manner of [her] testimony during the evidentiary hearing," her "bad choices," and her "legally improper" remarks at an Atlanta-area church in January.

Motion to appeal

Sadow, lead counsel for Trump, noted Monday, in the joint motion requesting the Fulton County Superior Court to grant a certificate of immediate review of its order, that the disqualification ruling "is of exceptionally great importance to this case, substantially impacting Defendants' rights to due process."

"Additionally, given the lack of guidance from the appellate courts on key issues, and the fact that any errors in the March 15 Order could be structural errors that would necessitate retrial(s), the grant of a certificate of immediate review is both prudent and warranted," added Sadow.

Sadow highlighted McAfee's stated sense that Willis' action "had created an appearance of impropriety and an 'odor of mendacity' that lingers in this case, as well as the continuing possibility that 'an outsider could reasonably think that District Attorney Willis is not exercising her independent professional judgment totally free of any compromising influences.'"

Sadow also seized upon McAfee's claim that Willis' racially charged Jan. 14 speech was "legally improper," noting that the Georgia appellate courts would likely go so far as to recognize it as a contributing instance of forensic misconduct requiring the Democrat's disqualification.

The defense attorney noted the "resignation of Mr. Wade is insufficient to cure the appearance of impropriety the Court has determined exists." According to Sadow, relevant case law would dictate the case be altogether dismissed but that Willis should at the very least be disqualified.

Sadow wrote that it is important to have the appellate courts weigh in on the matter prior to the trials, stressing there is precedent for doing so and a risk of otherwise spiking the trial's results in a manner requiring retrials.

— (@)

NBC News noted that there is not an automatic right to appeal at this stage and that McAfee would have to grant permission to do so within 10 days of his March 15 ruling. Furthermore, the Georgia appeals court would have to agree to hear the case.

If, however, the stars align and the defendants are able to appeal the ruling, then the already unscheduled trial will likely be kicked back a great deal further. Even without the appeal, it is highly unlikely the trial will occur prior to the 2024 election, and if Trump is re-elected, then he could request that the U.S. Supreme Court have the case delayed until he leaves office.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Defense attorney in Trump's Georgia case tees up Fani Willis for renewed scrutiny with damning testimony



The Georgia Senate Special Committee on Investigations learned this week that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis may not have been entirely forthright when answering questions about her timely visits to Washington, D.C., or when asking the county for millions of dollars in taxpayer funds.

While the panel is powerless to oust Willis from office, damning insights gleaned from testimony heard Wednesday could nevertheless help to blow up the Democrat's career.

Quick background

Willis' year got off to a rough start when an attorney for one of the co-defendants in former President Donald Trump's Georgia case filed a motion to disqualify her. Attorney Ashleigh Merchant's Jan. 8 court filing accused Willis of pursuing the case despite a conflict of interest and engaging in other improprieties.

In the months since, Merchant has proven a thorn in the Democrat's side, exposing Willis to scrutiny over her affair with Nathan Wade — the allegedly underqualified man she ultimately appointed top Trump prosecutor — and other possibly compromising choices.

While the last two months were particularly rocky, it appears Willis' year may get a whole lot worse.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee has yet to determine whether Willis and Wade should be disqualified from the Georgia case for what defense attorney Craig Gillen characterized as "systematic misconduct"; however, other officials are looking into possible wrongdoing on Willis' part in the meantime — including members of a state Senate special committee.

Merchant testified before the Georgia Senate Special Committee on Investigations for over three hours Wednesday, intimating the Georgia case is compromised not only by those directly involved but by its possible connection to the Biden White House as well.

A timely visit to DC

Merchant highlighted a White House record during her testimony Wednesday that indicates Willis met with Vice President Kamala Harris on Feb. 28, 2023, just months before Trump's Georgia indictment.

"My understanding is that it's highly regulated who can access the White House," said Merchant. "So you have to apply ahead of time."

The record suggests the meeting took place on a "side lawn/tent" at the U.S. Naval Observatory where 456 people were present for what appears to have been an invitation-only Black History Month event.

— (@)

Mike Howell of the Heritage Foundation's Oversight Project similarly made a note of the White House record in January.

— (@)

When asked about her trips to Washington, D.C., during her ethics hearing in Fulton County Superior Court earlier this month, Willis said, "I know that I have been to D.C. — I did an interview with Howard University. I went to D.C. for that. Seems like I been to D.C. one other time. Oh! I went to D.C. for the Global Summit."

A defense attorney asked Willis, "When you went to D.C., did you go to the White House?"

Willis answered under oath, "I did not go to the White House."

A spokesman for the DA's office told CNN that there was no "secret meeting" between Willis and Harris in February 2023. The spokesman suggested further that Willis did not even meet Harris at the black history event and only saw her on stage from a distance.

Blaze News reached out to the White House regarding whether Willis met with Harris on Feb. 28 or other occasions but did not immediately receive a response.

While it remains unclear whether Willis personally met with Harris, her lover was certainly up close and personal with elements of the Biden White House ahead of the Trump indictment.

Blaze News previously reported that invoices included in Merchant's motion to disqualify indicate that Nathan Wade had an eight-hour meeting on May 23, 2022, with "White House Counsel" and another eight-hour White House meeting on Nov. 11, 2022.

Merchant appeared reluctant to explicitly accuse Willis and Wade of conspiring with the Biden administration to kneecap the Republican front-runner.

Money problems

Merchant told the committee that after Willis pleaded with the Fulton County Board of Commissioners in 2021 for millions of dollars to fight the rise in crime and the backlog of homicide cases resultant of COVID-19, she allegedly ended up using a sizeable portion of the taxpayer funds on Trump's election case.

The Democratic DA then hired Wade in a manner such that she could allegedly dodge oversight and pay him more than the other much more experienced prosecutors.

Whereas Wade, previously a middling associate municipal court judge in Marietta, reportedly entered into a contract with Willis' office on Nov. 1, 2021, at a rate of $250 per hour, John Floyd, one of Georgia's top experts on federal and state Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations statutes, entered into a contract on March 10 of that year at a rate of $150 per hour.

An extra $100 an hour would have gone the distance when paying down Wade's and Willis' luxurious vacations together.

Republican state Sen. Bill Cowsert, the chair of the committee, appeared particularly interested in Wade's apparently uncustomary tendency to submit invoices to the DA's office charging by blocks of hours rather than in hourly increments.

Merchant told lawmakers that Floyd and prosecutor Anna Cross alternatively submitted itemized invoices and were both paid a great deal less than Willis' lover, reported WAGA-TV. Whereas Wade reportedly received roughly $700,000 for his work, Cross received $100,000, and Floyd brought in even less.

Republican lawmakers also puzzled over why the Democratic DA needed to hire special prosecutors in the first place.

"Why wouldn't you just hire more assistant DAs and have them in-house?" asked Cowsert.

According to Merchant, Willis would have run afoul of nepotism rules if she hired Wade. Additionally, as a special prosecutor, Wade stood to make far more money than an assistant DA, whose pay rate is set by statute. Whereas assistant DAs make roughly $175,000 per year, Wade has cleared substantially more.

The Washington Times reported that the Georgia Senate's special committee has alluded to the presence of whistleblowers in Willis' office who are willing to spill the beans.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Fani’s WILD Explanations Collapse in Front of Cold, Hard Evidence | Ep 854

Fani’s WILD Explanations Collapse in Front of Cold, Hard Evidence | Ep 854

Judge overseeing Fani Willis' misconduct hearing says her disqualification is 'possible'



Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis may soon rue the day she appointed her married lover as top prosecutor on former President Donald Trump's Georgia election interference case.

This week, the Fulton County Superior Court will take up misconduct allegations, including the claim that Willis financially benefited from hiring her ostensibly underqualified lover, Nathan Wade. Despite her best efforts, Willis may even have to testify under oath with Trump in the room watching.

The judge overseeing the case has made clear that the Democratic DA could ultimately be disqualified, although that may be the least of Willis' concerns. After all, if it is found that Willis and her lover misled the court in their Feb. 2 court filing, which suggested their affair did not begin until after Wade's appointment, then the Fulton County DA could possibly face legal ramifications.

Even if the Black Panther's daughter enjoys a good day in court on Feb. 15, that may not ultimately spare her from consequence, as House Republicans are looking into whether Willis' office misused federal funds; the Georgia Senate is investigating possible wrongdoing on her part; Fulton County Commissioner Bob Ellis is pressing Willis for information concerning her office's financials and prosecutors; and she is being sued for allegedly failing to turn over records in compliance with the Georgia Open Records Act.

The accusations

The walls began to close in on Willis on Jan. 8 when Georgia lawyer Ashleigh Merchant filed a 127-page court motion on behalf of Trump co-defendant Michael Roman requesting that Willis be disqualified and the charges against Roman be dismissed "on the grounds that the entire prosecution is invalid and unconstitutional."

"The district attorney and the special prosecutor have violated laws regulating the use of public monies, suffer from irreparable conflicts of interest, and have violated their oaths of office under the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct and should be disqualified from prosecuting this matter," said the filing.

In addition to suggesting Willis and Wade were involved in a relationship prior to his 2021 appointment, the filing intimated that Wade received preferential treatment from the DA's office and was underqualified.

In the weeks since, additional motions have been filed or adopted — on behalf of Trump, Bob Cheeley, former Georgia GOP Chair David Shafer, and ex-Coffee County GOP Chairwoman Cathy Latham.

While recent motions to disqualify Willis largely conform to the outlines of the Jan. 8 filing, they have also suggested that the DA tainted the case against Trump and his co-defendants by fomenting "racial animus and prejudice against the defendants."

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee has indicated that the Feb. 15 hearing will largely focus on whether Willis materially benefited from hiring Wade and the timeline of their romantic involvement, reported the ABC News.

The Washington Post noted, however, that McAfee will not hear testimony concerning Wade's alleged lack of qualifications, as Willis was within her rights to hire anyone with "a heartbeat and a bar card."

The stakes

Judge McAfee said during a hearing Monday, "I think it's clear that disqualification can occur if evidence is produced demonstrating an actual conflict or the appearance of one."

"The state has admitted a relationship existed. And so what remains to be proven is the existence and extent of any financial benefit, again if there was one," continued McAfee.

Willis admitted earlier this month in a 176-page court filing that she was romantically involved with Wade but claimed there "was no personal relationship between them in November 2021 at the time of Special Prosecutor Wade's appointment."

The filing submitted by Willis' legal team claimed further that the "personal relationship between Special Prosecutor Wade and District Attorney Willis has never involved direct or indirect financial benefit to District Attorney Willis" and that "Willis has no personal conflict of interest that justifies her disqualification personally or that of the Fulton County District Attorney' Office."

A lawyer for Trump's co-defendant Michael Roman filed a new complaint Friday casting doubt on whether the lovers were honest with the court about the timeline of their relationship.

The filing notes that attorney Terrence Bradley, a former friend and business associate of Wade's, has "non-privileged, personal knowledge that the romantic relationship between Wade and Willis began prior to Willis being sworn as the district attorney for Fulton County, Georgia in January 2021."

"Thus, Bradley can confirm that Willis contracted with Wade after Wade and Willis began a romantic relationship, thus rebutting Wade's claim in his affidavit that they did not start dating until 2022," continues the filing.

Bradley will apparently confirm that Willis and Wade occasionally lived together in a residence previously occupied in part by Robin Yeartie, a former employee of the Fulton County District Attorney's Office and a friend of Willis.

"I think the issues at point here are whether a relationship existed, whether that relationship was romantic or non-romantic in nature, when it formed, and whether it continues," McAfee said Monday. "And that's only relevant because it's in combination with the question of the existence and extent of any personal benefit conveyed as a result of their relationship."

Wade and Willis have desperately attempted to have the Thursday hearing canceled, but it appears their protest has fallen on deaf ears.

McAfee said the defense successfully established a "good faith basis for relevance" for the Democratic DA's testimony and that of her lover.

Anna Cross, a lawyer for the DA's office, nevertheless argued that the "defense is not bringing you facts, the defense is not bringing you law, the defense is bringing you gossip, and the court should not condone that practice."

Trump apparently intends to show up in hopes of seeing Willis raked over the coals.

Citing indications from anonymous individuals "with knowledge of the possible trip," the Washington Post reported that Trump may join David Shafer in attending the misconduct hearing, which would draw more attention to the case and to the claims made therein about Willis.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

House GOP subpoenas Fani Willis on the day of her home-wrecking admission; Georgia takes 'first step' toward her impeachment



House Republicans subpoenaed Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis Friday over her office's potential misuse of federal funds. The subpoena was delivered just prior to Willis' admission in a court filing that she has been involved in a relationship with a married man whom she ultimately appointed top prosecutor on former President Donald Trump's Georgia election interference case.

The subpoena and the home-wrecking admission both come on the heels of the Georgia Senate taking "the first step towards impeaching and defunding this corrupt prosecutor" over Willis' various alleged improprieties.

The likelihood that Trump's case — for which there is no trial date set — will proceed before the 2024 election is shrinking by the day. Meanwhile, the possibility of Willis facing significant professional consequences continues to grow.

While the walls appear to be closing in on the Black Panther's daughter, insiders told CNN this week that Willis is not expected to recuse herself from the case to protect its integrity.

Mounting allegations

The Democratic DA has been accused of:

  • tainting the case against Trump and his co-defendants, in part by fomenting "racial animus and prejudice against the defendants";
  • coordinating with elements of the Biden White House and Jan. 6 committee in a supposedly politically motivated effort to kneecap the Republican front-runner;
  • terminating a whistleblower who called out possible misuse of federal grant money;
  • appointing her lover, Nathan Wade, to lead the prosecution despite his dearth of relevant experience, his alleged bungling of a high-profile case concerning suspicious deaths in an Atlanta-area jail, and the obvious conflict of interest the working relationship would entail;
  • giving Wade preferential treatment;
  • allowing Wade to take her on luxurious vacations using Fulton County funds she approved — trips for which it appears there are receipts; and
  • possibly running afoul of the federal racketeering statute.

Weeks after lashing out at the wife of her lover, Willis finally came clean Friday regarding at least one of the allegations.

A 176-page court filing obtained by the Washington Post acknowledges that Willis has been romantically involved with Wade but alleges there "was no personal relationship between them in November 2021 at the time of Special Prosecutor Wade's appointment."

The filing claims further that the "personal relationship between Special Prosecutor Wade and District Attorney Willis has never involved direct or indirect financial benefit to District Attorney Willis" and that "Willis has no personal conflict of interest that justifies her disqualification personally or that of the Fulton County District Attorney' Office."

In likely reference to Willis' racially charged commentary before an Atlanta church congregation last month and the corresponding complaint she had prejudiced potential jurors, the filing suggests that "Willis has made no public statements that warrant disqualification or judicial inquiry."

The filing also contains an admission by Wade that he developed a "personal relationship" with Willis in 2022. Wade alleged in a deposition included in the filing that "no funds paid to me in compensation for my role as Special Prosecutor have been shared with or provided to District Attorney Willis."

Willis called the damning allegations against her "meritless" and "salacious," reported the Post.

Attorney and legal analyst Phil Holloway told Fox News that the allegations, both confirmed and outstanding, could possibly kill the Georgia election interference case against Trump.

"If it can be proven she violated the constitution in the way of substitute due process claims, that she was fundamentally unfair in how she carried out her prosecutorial duties, then that could result in a dismissal [of the case]," said Holloway.

"It would be a question if she gets recused, then her whole office has to be recused," continued the analyst. "If she's got a conflict of interest, everybody who works for her has that same conflict of interest. So the prosecuting attorney's counsel here in Georgia or the attorney general's office may have to sort out who in the state of Georgia, if anyone, wants this."

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, who is overseeing The State v. Donald John Trump, has scheduled a Feb. 15 evidentiary hearing to take up the misconduct allegations.

Georgia turns up the heat

The Georgia Senate voted 30-19 on Jan. 26 to approve the formation of a committee to investigate possible wrongdoing on Willis' part. While the panel has the power to compel testimony and subpoena records, the New York Times indicated it is powerless to oust Willis from office.

Following the vote, state Sen. Colton Moore (R) wrote on X, "Investigating Fani Willis is the first step towards impeaching and defunding this corrupt prosecutor. We cannot let up the pressure now... we must DOUBLE DOWN."

"We are just getting started. We will save America," continued Moore. "But it will take enormous courage and participation from grassroots, blue-collar PATRIOTS from across the land of the free."

State Sen. Greg Dolezal (R), who reportedly introduced the legislation to establish the special committee, said in a statement, "The multitude of accusations surrounding Ms. Willis, spanning from allegations of prosecutorial misconduct to questions about the use of public funds and accusations of an unprofessional relationship, underscores the urgency for a thorough and impartial examination."

The committee will comprise nine members, three of whom will be Democrats.

Extra to the Georgia Senate's investigation, Fulton County Commissioner Bob Ellis, the county's audit committee chair, has requested that Willis provide various materials, including invoices for services, costs, and fees submitted for payment by special prosecutors that have been received by her office since 2021. Ellis also appears interested in details related to the relevant professional experiences of her appointees.

Compounding potential difficulties for Willis, State Rep. Charlice Byrd (R) also introduced articles of impeachment against Willis last week, stating, "Fani Willis has a laundry list of potential conflicts that make her unworthy and unfit to be the District Attorney in Fulton County."

"Someone elected to that office is expected to uphold the law and not weaponize their office for political gain," added Byrd.

Republicans do not appear to have the requisite number of votes to get the impeachment through the state legislature.

Congressional investigation

The House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed Willis Friday for documents concerning a whistleblower's complaint.

Blaze News previously reported that Willis has been accused of demoting then terminating Amanda Timpson after the woman cautioned her that another employee in the office intended to blow part of a $488,000 federal grant on frivolous expenses such as computers, "swag," and "travel."

— (@)

Despite an apparent audio recording of the warning, Willis has called the allegation "false," writing it off as "baseless litigation filed by a holdover employee from the prior administration who was terminated for cause," reported NBC News.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Timpson has a lawsuit against Willis pending in Fulton County Superior Court.

In his Friday letter to Willis, Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) noted that the Democratic DA has "failed to comply voluntarily" with previous requests for documents related to her office's "receipt and use of federal grant funds issued by the U.S. Department of Justice."

The congressional subpoena requests all documents and communication pertaining to Willis' receipt and use of federal funds.

The subpoena is part of a broader congressional investigation launched in August delving into whether Willis used federal funds when conducting her investigation into Trump.

Willis has previously rebuked the Republican investigators, claiming there is "no justification in the Constitution for Congress to interfere with a state criminal matter."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Trump lawyers push for Fani Willis' disqualification, claiming she has fomented 'racial animus and prejudice'



Fani Willis' disastrous January is nearly at an end, but her troubles appear to be just getting started.

The Fulton County district attorney is expected to receive a subpoena to testify in court next month concerning accusations of misconduct and possible criminality, according to CNN.

The allegations Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee will take up at a hearing scheduled for Feb. 15 — and Willis may have to speak to — are also of interest to the Fulton County commissioner, Georgia congresswoman, and state senator who have recently called for investigations into possible wrongdoing on Willis' part.

Although her reputation and career are on the line, Willis' 2020 election interference case against former President Donald Trump is also at risk of crumbling.

Lawyers for Trump filed a request Thursday to disqualify Willis from prosecuting the Republican front-runner in Georgia. Trump's lawyers have built upon the previous motion to disqualify filed on behalf of his co-defendant, Michael Roman, and are now claiming Willis has fomented "racial animus and prejudice against the defendants."

Going through the motions

The Jan. 8 court motion to disqualify Willis, filed in the Superior Court of Fulton County on behalf of Roman, called out the Democratic DA for alleged misconduct and possible criminality, claiming she improperly appointed Nathan Wade, an inexperienced and married special counsel with whom she was apparently romantically involved. Despite Willis' later protestation in church, employment documents suggest she also paid Wade better than at least one other special counsel.

According to the motion, Wade allegedly used Fulton County funds received by his law firm and approved by Willis to pay for their extravagant international and domestic trips together. He has reportedly been paid over $650,000 in legal fees since January 2022.

Credit card statements recently exposed in Wade's divorce case revealed Nathan Wade paid Willis' way for joint getaways, including airline trips to Miami in October 2022 and to San Francisco in April 2023.

The motion suggested the arrangement between Wade and Willis was not only unethical but may have involved the commission of a federal crime prosecutable under the federal racketeering statute.

Another motion to disqualify

Lawyers for Trump have joined the effort to disqualify Willis, reiterating in a Thursday motion that the Black Panther's daughter created a conflict of interest by hiring her lover to help prosecute the case, reported the New York Times.

Trump's lawyers also suggested that Willis likely prejudiced prospective jurors against Trump and violated Georgia bar rules by claiming before a church full of people that criticism of her was animated by racism.

Willis told a congregation in Atlanta on Jan. 14 that those critical of Wade's appointment were "playing the race card."

"I'm a little confused. I appointed three special counselors. It's my right to do. Paid them all the same hourly rate. They only attacked one," said Willis. Documents reviewed by the Daily Caller News Foundation indicated Willis did not pay all three special counselors at the same rate.

The Democratic DA also painted herself as a victim of racism, stating, "[God,] you did not tell me as a woman of color it would not matter what I did. My motive, my talent, my ability, and my character would be constantly attacked."

The Thursday filing called Willis' comments "a glaring, flagrant and calculated effort to foment racial bias into this case by publicly denouncing the defendants for somehow daring to question her decision to hire a Black man."

According to the filing, Willis' remarks "engender a great likelihood of substantial prejudice towards the defendants in the eyes of the public in general, and prospective jurors in Fulton County in particular," reported USA Today.

Steve Sadow, Trump's lead defense counsel in the Georgia case, said, "The motion filed today on behalf of President Trump seeks to hold District Attorney Willis legally accountable both for her misconduct alleged in a motion filed by Mr. Roman, as well as her extrajudicial public statements falsely and intentionally injecting race into this case."

Willis has injected race into the case not only publicly but behind the scenes of the case.

Blaze News previously reported that Willis intimated in an email exchange last week that at least one of the defense lawyers in the Georgia election interference case was a racist, writing, "Some people will never be able to respect African Americans and/or women as their equal and counterpart."

"Her attempt to foment racial animus and prejudice against the defendants in order to divert and deflect attention away from her alleged improprieties calls out for the sanctions of dismissal and disqualification," said Sadow.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Fani Willis' alleged lover's divorce case has been unsealed — and there are receipts



A Cobb County judge has unsealed the divorce case for the lead Trump prosecutor in Georgia. Some suspect this exposure may in turn seal the fate of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis — Nathan Wade's alleged lover — as it pertains to her role prosecuting former President Donald Trump's controversial election interference case.

After all, any damning records pertaining to the alleged affair between Willis and Wade will now be public.

Willis did, however, receive some good news this week. Superior Judge Henry Thompson indicated Monday she will not have to testify in Wade's divorce case as originally planned; at least not until her alleged lover has been questioned under oath about his finances and their supposed affair, reported WAGA-TV.

The Black Panther's daughter still faces mounting scrutiny outside the divorce proceedings.

A Fulton County commissioner is now demanding answers from the Democratic DA concerning her relationship with Wade, keen to know whether or not everything is above board at the DA's office.

Allegations

Earlier this month, a court motion to disqualify Willis, filed on behalf of one of Trump's co-defendants, called out the Democratic DA for alleged misconduct and possible criminality.

The broad outlines of the recent allegations against Willis are as follows:

  • Willis was secretly embroiled in an "improper, clandestine personal relationship" with Nathan Wade, a married attorney;
  • Despite Wade's lack of relevant experience and her failure to secure county approval, Willis appointed Wade top prosecutor on the Trump election interference case;
  • Willis paid him better than at least one other special counsel, despite recently telling a church full of people otherwise;
  • Wade filed for divorce the day after entering his contract with the Fulton County District Attorney's Office then proceeded to conceal relevant financial information from his estranged wife and the court, ultimately resulting in a contempt of court charge;
  • That financial information might illuminate how Wade allegedly used Fulton County funds received by his law firm to pay for luxurious international and domestic vacations he ultimately took with Willis; and
  • The arrangement between Wade and Willis was not only unethical but may have involved the commission of a federal crime prosecutable under the federal racketeering statute.

Extra to alleged misconduct and possible criminality, the motion to disqualify appeared to also indicate that the Fulton County DA's office coordinated with the Biden White House in its effort to prosecute the Democratic incumbent's top political rival.

Willis has since attempted to paint herself as a victim, intimating the allegations against her are the stuff of racially-motivated fantasy.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, who is overseeing The State v. Donald John Trump, has scheduled a Feb. 15 evidentiary hearing to take up the misconduct allegations.

Receipts

Lawyers for Joycelyn Wade filed a motion in her divorce case Friday, which included credit card statements that appear to show Wade paid Willis' way for joint getaways, including airline trips to Miami in October 2022 and to San Francisco in April 2023, according to the Washington Post.

The motion indicated that previously omitted discovery responses "demonstrated that [Wade] had paid for and taken trips unrelated to his work with the Fulton County District Attorney's office. ... The evidence is clear that Ms. Willis was an intended travel partner for at least some of these trips as indicated by flights he purchased for her to accompany him."

The New York Times reported that Willis' lawyer, Cinque Axam, attempted Monday to once again keep her client out of the divorce case, suggesting the Democratic DA does not have a unique insight into the case and "does not share any accounts" with Wade.

Andrea Dyer Hastings, Joycelyn Wade's lawyer, referred to Willis as the "alleged paramour of my client's husband" and told the judge, "I want to know about how he's been spending his money."

"I have reasons to believe he's spending it on another woman," said Hastings. "That's my client's money. And I want to ask questions about that."

Another investigation

Atlanta News First reported that within hours of the travel receipts coming to light Friday, Fulton County Commissioner Bob Ellis sent a letter to Willis concerning the allegations that she "misused County funds and accepted valuable gifts and personal benefits from a contractor/recipient of County funds."

"Separate from any potential inquiry by the State of Georgia, this situation requires confirmation of whether County funds provided for the operation of your office and its prosecutorial function were used in an appropriate manner, and whether any payments of County funds to Mr. Wade were converted to your personal gain in the form of subsidized travel or other gifts," added Ellis, who serves as audit committee chair.

The commissioner's allusion to a state inquiry appears to be in reference to the investigation demanded earlier this month by Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Greene filed a complaint on Jan. 10 with Gov. Brian Kemp and Georgia Attorney General Christopher Carr requesting they order "the immediate and formal criminal investigation into the alleged criminal misconduct" by Willis, along with Wade.

Ellis requested in his letter that Willis provide various materials, including invoices for services, costs, and fees submitted for payment by special prosecutors that have been received by her office since 2021 as well as details pertaining to the relevant professional experiences of her appointees.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Fani Willis allegedly hired lover as special prosecutor in Trump case; used state funds for lavish vacations: Filing



A 127-page court motion filed Monday alleges Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis was embroiled in "an improper, clandestine personal relationship" with a married private attorney whom she ultimately hired to spearhead the prosecution of former President Donald Trump's Georgia election interference case. The alleged affair is said to have been mutually beneficial and to have involved possible criminality.

Extra to suggesting Willis is ethically compromised by her relationship with Nathan Wade — who is now in divorce proceedings — the filing claimed that the Democratic daughter of a top Black Panther may have been involved in the commission of a federal crime prosecutable under the federal racketeering statute, reported the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The court motion was filed Monday in the Superior Court of Fulton County on behalf of Michael Roman, a former Trump campaign official who is a co-defendant in the Republican front-runner's Georgia case.

Roman served as director of Election Day operations for Trump's 2020 re-election campaign. He was indicted in 2023 on charges of conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree; violation of the Georgia RICO Act; conspiracy to commit false statements and writings; conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer, and conspiracy to commit filing false documents.

The aim of the Monday filing is to have the charges Willis brought against Roman dismissed "on the grounds that the entire prosecution is invalid and unconstitutional because the Fulton County district attorney never had legal authority to appoint the special prosecutor, who assisted in obtaining both grand jury indictments. As a result, both indictments contain structural errors and irreparable defects and should be dismissed in their entirety."

The motion further requests that the court disqualify Willis, her supposed lover, and the whole of the DA's office from further prosecuting the case.

"The district attorney and the special prosecutor have violated laws regulating the use of public monies, suffer from irreparable conflicts of interest, and have violated their oaths of office under the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct and should be disqualified from prosecuting this matter," said the filing.

Nathan Wade, a critical element of the prosecution against Trump in Georgia, was formerly a prosecutor in Cobb County, where he never prosecuted a felony case, according to the filing. Newsweek noted that Wade ran three times to become a judge in Cobb County Superior Court between 2012 and 2016 and failed in all three instances.

The motion claims that without the approval of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, required by law, Willis hired Wade in November 2021. The New York Times previously characterized Wade as an "old friend" of Willis.

The day after he entered into his contract, Wade filed for divorce.

The filing claims that "sources close to both the special prosecutor and the district attorney have confirmed they had an ongoing, personal relationship during the pendency of the special prosecutor's divorce proceedings." The filing further alleges that "according to these sources, the personal relationship between [Willis] and [Wade] began before this prosecution was initiated and before the district attorney appointed the special prosecutor."

The Journal-Constitution indicated that there is no definitive proof in the filing of the relationship besides the assertions by the unnamed sources. However, Roman's lawyer, Ashleigh Merchant, appears to have found something of interest when reviewing the case file in Wade's ongoing divorce proceedings. While she made copies, the case remains under seal. Accordingly, Merchant indicated she will wait to share the information from the divorce file once a judge has unsealed it.

According to the filing, Wade used Fulton County funds received by his law firm to pay for luxurious vacations he supposedly took with Willis. Wade and Willis allegedly traveled to Napa Valley and Florida and also cruised the Caribbean together.

Wade, whose compensation is authorized by Willis, has reportedly been paid over $650,000 in legal fees since January 2022, according to county records.

"Wade is being paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to prosecute this case on her behalf," said the motion. "In turn, Wade is taking Willis on, and paying for vacations across the world with money he is being paid by the Fulton County taxpayers and authorized solely by Willis."

The motion further alleged that Willis' "apparent intentional failure to disclose her conflict of interest to Fulton County and the Court, combined with her decision to employ the special prosecutor based on her own personal interests may well be an act to defraud the public of honest services since the district attorney 'personally benefitted from an undisclosed conflict of interest.'"

Not only might such conduct have amounted to a federal crime, the filing suggests it could be prosecuted under the federal racketeering statue.

Pallavi Bailey, a spokeswoman for Willis, told the Journal-Constitution that the DA's office will respond to the allegations "through appropriate court filings." Wade, meanwhile, did not respond to the paper's request for comment.

This is not the first time in recent months Willis' prosecutorial integrity has been challenged.

The House Judiciary Committee launched an investigation last year into Willis regarding her motivations for prosecuting Trump. Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R) explicitly noted in an Aug. 24, 2023, letter, "Your indictment and prosecution implicate substantial federal interests, and the circumstances surrounding your actions raise serious concerns about whether they are politically motivated."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!