(NewsNation) — A Georgia judge deciding whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis off Georgia’s election interference case against former President Donald Trump set a hearing for Thursday.
But who is Fani Willis, the Fulton County district attorney, who is prosecuting former President Trump?
Who is Fani Willis?
Fani Willis is the district attorney for Fulton County, Georgia. She took office in January 2021. She campaigned on a promise to protect Fulton County’s neighborhoods, reform the criminal justice system there and restore integrity in the office.
Willis is a career trial lawyer of over 19 years who has led more than 100 jury trials and has prosecuted hundreds of murder cases, Fulton County’s website says. She graduated from Howard University and Emory University School of Law.
District Attorney of Fulton County
Fulton County, Georgia, is the state’s largest county that is home to more than one million Georgia residents. As the district attorney, she’s responsible for the prosecution of criminal cases in the entire county including cities and communities such as Atlanta, Sandy Springs and South Fulton.
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 14: Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis speaks during a news conference at the Fulton County Government building on August 14, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. A grand jury today handed up an indictment naming former President Donald Trump and his Republican allies over an alleged attempt to overturn the 2020 election results in the state. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) -
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 14: Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis speaks during a news conference at the Fulton County Government building on August 14, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) -
District Attorney for Fulton County, Fani Willis speaks during an Associated Press interview on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) -
This booking photo provided by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office shows Harrison Floyd on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, in Atlanta, after he surrendered and was booked. Floyd is charged alongside former President Donald Trump and 17 others, who are accused by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis of scheming to subvert the will of Georgia voters to keep the Republican president in the White House after he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. (Fulton County Sheriff’s Office via AP) -
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, center, speaks in the Fulton County Government Center during a news conference, Monday, Aug. 14, 2023, in Atlanta. Donald Trump and several allies have been indicted in Georgia over efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. -
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, right, and Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney speak in the Fulton county courthouse, Tuesday, July 11, 2023, in Atlanta. A grand jury being seated Tuesday in Atlanta will likely consider whether criminal charges are appropriate for former President Donald Trump or his Republican allies for their efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Willis is the first woman to serve in the position.
Fani Willis’ role in Trump trial
Willis brought an indictment against Trump and 18 of his associates in August 2023, alleging they schemed to illegally overturn his 2020 election loss and stop the peaceful transition of power.
Among the acts listed in the indictment was a Jan. 2, 2021, phone call in which Trump urged fellow Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to help “find” the 11,780 votes needed to overturn his election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump has pleaded not guilty and has maintained his innocence. Trump’s attorneys have said he was within his rights to challenge election results.
Fani Willis, Nathan Wade affair accusations
A motion by Trump co-defendant Michael Roman alleged Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade were in an inappropriate romantic relationship that created a conflict of interest in the case.
Willis hired Wade in November 2021 to assist her investigation into whether the Republican ex-president and others broke any laws as they tried to overturn his loss in the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. Since Trump and 18 others were indicted last year, Wade has led the team of lawyers Willis assembled to prosecute the case.
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According to The Hill, Willis had already asked several other lawyers to consider the job. In a 2022 New York Times interview, she admitted Wade wasn’t her first choice.
Attorneys accused Willis of personally profiting from the case, saying she paid Wade more than $650,000 for his work and benefited when he used his earnings to pay for vacations they took together. Roman urged the judge to dismiss the case and remove Willis from it.
In a response filed earlier in the month, Willis acknowledged having a “personal relationship” with Wade but added it has no bearing on the charges she’s pursuing in the case. She also asked the judge to dismiss motions against her without a hearing.
The filing was the first time Willis or Wade directly addressed the allegations of a relationship.
Critics argue Willis and Wade used taxpayer funds for vacations and dinners together. Additionally, they claim that while Wade has a robust resume, he isn’t qualified for the job.
Wade described himself and Willis as “both financially independent professionals; expenses or personal travel were roughly divided equally between us.”
“At times,” Wade said, “I have made and purchased travel for District Attorney Willis and myself from my personal funds. At other times District Attorney Willis has made and purchased travel for she and I from her personal funds.”
What’s next?
A hearing is scheduled for Thursday that’s expected to focus on details of the alleged relationship between Willis and Wade.
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The judge said the hearing needs to explore “whether a relationship existed, whether that relationship was romantic or non-romantic in nature, when it formed and whether it continues.” The hearing could continue into Friday.
“I think it’s possible that the facts alleged by the defendant could result in disqualification,” Judge Scott McAfee said Monday. “I think an evidentiary hearing must occur to establish the record on those core allegations.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
