Georgia’s Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis appeared earlier than a particular Georgia Senate committee on Wednesday to defend her prosecution of President Donald Trump. She instantly confronted Republican criticism, defended her actions, and denounced her dismissal from the case as politically motivated.
Who is Fani Willis?
Willis is presently serving as Georgia’s Fulton County District Attorney. She was beforehand a part of the prosecution in opposition to Trump’s efforts to overturn his loss in Georgia through the 2020 election. Willis was dismissed from the case over allegations of misconduct, and the case was dropped by a choose in November 2025.
On Wednesday, Willis appeared in entrance of a particular Georgia Senate committee after over a yr of authorized arguments. She denied deciding she was going to prosecute Trump, highlighted the quantity of labor the case had required, known as out potential electoral self-interest held by Republicans, and known as out the truth that her dwelling was swatted a number of instances, in addition to being known as the N-word.
What had been the allegations of misconduct in opposition to Fani Willis?
In January 2024, a Senate Special Committee on Investigations was created to look into allegations of misconduct in opposition to Willis. She employed particular prosecutor Nathan Wade to guide the case, which a protection legal professional alleged got here from an improper romantic relationship between Willis and Wade.
Both beforehand testified concerning the particulars of their relationship and denied that it had constituted a battle of curiosity, CBS News reported. Willis mentioned on Wednesday that she employed Wade as a result of they had been “drowning” in different instances.
“Every lawyer I had with that degree of expertise had an enormous venture,” she mentioned.
Willis added that the quantity of labor required had been “big” and that round 9 attorneys labored on the case on the time.
“It was numerous witnesses, a whole lot of work was put into this,” Willis mentioned. “I all the time need to make certain I’m a good DA.”
She described the workplace as being “absolute chaos” when she turned Fulton County DA, with so many bins that some workplace doorways couldn’t be opened.
“There had been 18,000 unindicted instances that went again six to seven years that I used to be . Not to say one other 10,000 within the system … the workplace was in absolute chaos,” Willis mentioned, in accordance with CBS News.
Yet she was faraway from the case final yr, because the Georgia Court of Appeals cited an “look of impropriety” arising from Willis and Wade’s relationship. Her enchantment to the state Supreme Court in September was denied.
Willis criticized prioritizing scrutiny of her relationship with Wade over extra severe incidents, together with being known as the n-word and having her dwelling swatted a number of instances.
“You need to examine one thing? Investigate what number of instances they known as me the n-word. Investigate them writing on my home, what number of instances my home has been swatted,” she mentioned on Wednesday.
During the lengthy listening to, which lasted for 4 hours, Willis made it clear that she is not going to be intimidated.
“I’m not Marjorie Taylor Greene. I ain’t going to give up in a month as a result of anyone threatens me,” she mentioned. “I took an oath to do the correct factor. People got here into my group and dedicated a criminal offense, and I indicted them.”
Fani Willis mentioned members of the committee’s ‘actual function is to attempt to get elected’
In November, Willis was changed by the Executive Director of the Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia, Peter J. Skandalakis, to guide the case. He filed a movement to desert the prosecution days later, and a Fulton County Superior Court choose ultimately dismissed the case on Nov. 26.
Willis accused Republican committee members of attacking her for political acquire, saying, “Your actual function is to attempt to get elected.”
Four of the 5 Republicans on the committee are working for workplace in 2026. Chairman Bill Cowsert is working for legal professional basic, whereas Senators Greg Dolezal of Cumming, Blake Tillery of Vidalia and Steve Gooch of Dahlonega wish to receive the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor. John Kennedy of Macon, one other Republican who beforehand served on the committee, resigned on Dec. 8 to pursue his bid for lieutenant governor.
At one other level within the assembly, Willis mentioned she didn’t recall the House committee sending her paperwork to assist with the case. She added that earlier conferences with Biden administration officers had been to request paperwork and testimony from the federal authorities.
“The actuality is that I introduced forth an indictment as a result of folks got here in my county, they dedicated a criminal offense, they usually acquired charged,” Willis mentioned, per CBS News. “They didn’t get charged due to their race. They didn’t get charged due to their political get together. They acquired charged as a result of they got here to my county and dedicated a criminal offense.”