A conversation about race and gender is beginning to brew as Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis tries to maintain her position as lead prosecutor in the election extortion case against former President Trump.
Willis, the district attorney for Fulton County, Georgia, previously said that allegations brought against her of having an “inappropriate” romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade were made because she is black.
Now, a little more than a month after making that claim, a handful of Willis defenders are echoing his position.
Bishop Reginald T. Jackson, presiding prelate of the Sixth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Georgia, told the New York Times that he believes Willis would not face accusations of misconduct if she “was not a woman and black.” “
BIGGEST CONCLUSIONS AFTER A WILD 2-DAY HEARING ON THE FANI WILLIS MATTER: 'WHAT'S DONE IS DONE'
Willis, the district attorney for Fulton County, Georgia, previously said that allegations brought against her of having an “inappropriate” romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade were made because she is black. (Getty Images)
“If I wasn't a woman and I wasn't black, I don't think I would have gone through this,” said Jackson, who the outlet noted she has prayed with and counseled Willis with privately in recent weeks.
“This was all about distraction and delay,” he added. “I think it's time to move on.”
Kamina Pinder, a law professor at Emory University, told the outlet that she knows black women face “unique challenges” when they hold positions of power.
“Everything she does will be scrutinized, so for her to do this is just strange,” Pinder told the outlet. “As a Black woman, I know there are unique challenges when you are in a position of power, but that does not excuse questionable and unethical behavior.”
Similarly, former Illinois Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, a Democrat who was the first black woman elected to the U.S. Senate, suggested that Willis is a “bigger target” for her opponents because she is a “high-profile black woman.” “.
FANI WILLIS RAISES EYEBROWS WITH A WINK AT STAND, LABELS FORMER LOVER NATHAN WADE AS 'SOUTHERN KNIGHT'
“Obviously, it was in someone's interest to tear it down,” Braun told the Times earlier this week. “The fact that she is a high-profile black woman simply means that she is a bigger target.”
“The fact that she is a high-profile black woman just means she is a bigger target,” former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, D-Ill., said of Willis. (Bridget Bennett for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
An Associated Press article this week also pointed to the narrative that Willis faces political turmoil because of his race.
“This sounds absolutely familiar. It's no secret that the common sentiment among black women in positions of power (is that) they must outperform to be seen as equals to their counterparts,” Jessica T. Ornsby, family litigation attorney in the Washington, D.C., area, he told the outlet.
“Here, Ms. Willis is being scrutinized for things not directly related to her job performance, in the same way we see other black women regularly criticized.”
Court documents filed last month alleged that Willis hired Wade, his alleged partner, to prosecute Trump and benefited financially from the relationship in the form of lavish vacations the two took using funds his firm received to work on the case. .
After the allegations were made, Willis spoke about the matter at Big Bethel AME Church in Atlanta, where he said the claims against him were based on his race.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis speaks at the Fulton County Government Center during a news conference on August 14, 2023 in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
“They only attacked one,” he said at the time. “The first thing they say is, 'Oh, now she's going to play the race card.' … But no, God, aren't they the ones playing the race card when they only question one?”
Fulton County records show Wade has been paid nearly $654,000 in legal fees since January 2022, an amount authorized by the district attorney, or Willis in this case.
The filing also calls for the entire district attorney's office, including Willis and Wade, to be disqualified from prosecuting the case.
FANI WILLIS HEARING 'DISTONTO' TESTIMONY, 'PURE COMEDY GOLD', STATES SOCIAL NETWORKS
Willis said last month that John Floyd and Anna Green Cross, both prosecutors assigned to the case, are white and were not attacked.
“Aren't they the ones playing the race card when they constantly think I need someone from some other jurisdiction in some other state to tell me how to do a job I've been doing for almost 30 years,” Willis questioned.
Earlier this week, Willis took the witness stand at an evidentiary hearing. regarding their relationship with Wade.
Fani Willis testifies at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta on February 15, 2024. (Alyssa Pointer)
Willis' testimony was marked by notable hostility Thursday, with the prosecutor calling some of the accusations “dishonest” and “extremely offensive.” At one point, Willis raised a printout of the allegations against him with both hands and turned toward the judge yelling, “This is a lie!”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Willis also called defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant's interests “contrary to democracy.”
Trump was indicted by Willis in August and pleaded not guilty to charges related to the alleged attempt to subvert the election results. 2020 presidential election in Georgia, including violating Georgia's racketeering law.
Fox News' Lindsay Kornick, Brianna Herlihy and Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
