Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis recently won the Democratic primary election against her opponent Christian Wise Smith in Georgia. Despite facing investigations from state and federal lawmakers over alleged misuse of taxpayer money, Willis secured a landslide victory. Wise Smith highlighted concerns about the chaos and corruption in the DA’s office, urging voters to reclaim the justice system in Fulton County.
Willis gained significant attention after leading the investigation and indictment of former President Donald Trump in connection to attempts to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results. However, she did not mention the Trump case in her recent campaign ad, focusing instead on her efforts to combat gangs and violent offenders. Despite the controversies surrounding her, she confidently predicted a significant win over Wise Smith, which was reflected in the initial vote count showing her with nearly 90% of the vote.
Allegations emerged in January that Willis had an improper romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor hired to handle the Trump case. Although Willis acknowledged a personal relationship with Wade, she claimed it only turned romantic after 2022. Following these revelations, Wade was forced to resign from the case. Despite these challenges, a judge ruled that Willis could remain on the case as long as Wade stepped aside, allowing her to proceed with prosecuting the charges against Trump and his co-defendants.
Throughout the investigation into the Trump case, Wade received a substantial amount of legal fees – nearly $654,000 – for his work. It was also revealed that he had taken lavish trips with Willis while employed at her office. Additionally, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan and Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson are leading separate investigations into whether Willis misused state and federal funds. These inquiries have sparked accusations of interference in criminal investigations and concerns of conflicts of interest.
At the state level, a committee in the Georgia Senate is looking into potential conflicts of interest and misuse of public funds by Willis related to her relationship with Wade. Willis has refused to testify in the state Senate investigation, questioning the lawmakers’ authority to subpoena her. As she prepares to face Republican challenger Courtney Kramer in the general election, Willis has criticized Kramer as unqualified for the role. Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee, who presided over the Trump case, also won his election, securing a full four-year term starting in January.
