Who is Fani Willis, the Fulton County District attorney investigating Donald Trump?

Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis was supposed to begin the trial of her career as lead prosecutor against former president Donald Trump for election meddling. Instead, Willis is defending herself from accusations that threaten to derail her case.

Trump’s lawyers allege that Willis and associate Nathan Wade, who she hired as special prosecutor against Trump, had an improper relationship that financially benefitted the two of them.

“It is a lie, it is a lie,” an exasperated Willis claimed in court.

The decision rests with Judge Scott McAfee whether she will be replaced. This would have huge ramifications; a court delay could push the case beyond the November presidential election. Trump’s legal team has sought to delay his cases as long as they can and this ploy could pay off if she is removed.

Fani Wallis: some background

Willis’ upbringing, shaped by her father’s legacy as a criminal defence attorney within the Black Panther Party, significantly informs her professional journey. With degrees from Howard University and Emory University School of Law, she ventured into private practice as a criminal defence and family law attorney before her tenure in the Fulton County prosecutor’s office from 2001 to 2018. Her ascent culminated in her election as county prosecutor in 2020.

Balancing leniency programs for minor offenders with a staunch stance against violent crime and gang activities, Willis’ approach is marked by an unwavering commitment to justice. Those who’ve collaborated with her attest to her resolute professionalism and determination in the face of criticism.

This Trump case isn’t Willis’ maiden voyage into stormy prosecutorial waters. She previously led the successful prosecution of Atlanta schoolteachers who manipulated standardised test scores to bolster student performance. Furthermore, she didn’t shy away from indicting prominent rapper Jeffery Lamar Williams, better known as Young Thug, on allegations of gang involvement.

Though the future of federal prosecutions against Trump remains uncertain, subject to the shifts of upcoming elections or pardons, legal experts in Georgia point to the case resonating deeply in a state known for its historical clashes over voting rights. While facing a torrent of criticism and acerbic attacks from Trump himself in the lead-up to the indictment, Willis remains steadfast, embracing the same imperviousness to external criticism that has long defined her prosecutorial trajectory.