A former U.S. attorney on Friday suggested that Fani Willis, the District Attorney of Fulton County, Georgia, might be implicitly acknowledging the validity of certain allegations made against her, particularly following her use of race as a defense in response to accusations of an inappropriate relationship with a colleague.
Allegations May Be True
Former U.S. Attorney Michael Moore, a Democrat appointed by President Obama, commented on CNN, “Sounds a lot to me like maybe a concession that some of the allegations in the motion must be true.”
Controversial Appointments
Documents submitted to the court earlier this month revealed that Willis had appointed special prosecutor Nathan Wade, who was allegedly her romantic partner, to handle the prosecution of Former President Donald Trump in Georgia’s election interference case.
Luxurious Vacations
These documents also indicate that the pair enjoyed expensive vacations funded by the income Wade’s firm received for handling the case.
Subpoena and Defense
Willis has also been subpoenaed in Wade’s ongoing divorce proceedings. Her legal team has responded, alleging a conspiracy by Wade’s estranged wife and others to cause her distress.
Broken Marriage
The filing states, “Because the parties agree their marriage is irretrievably broken, there is no information that Willis could provide that would be relevant.”
Accusations of Interference
Willis’s attorney also accused Wade’s wife of attempting to interfere with the district attorney’s case regarding election interference involving former President Donald Trump and other defendants.
Impact on Trump’s Case
Michael Moore believes the accusations won’t critically harm the case against Trump but do present a serious image problem for Willis.
Anticipated Judicial Response
He anticipates the judge will quickly address the issue and require Willis to verify the accuracy of the allegations.
Experience and Qualifications Questioned
Moore raised concerns about Wade’s qualifications for handling such a high-profile case. He questioned whether Wade’s experience in felony prosecution was sufficient for the magnitude of this case.
Potential Legal Troubles for Willis
When asked about the possibility of Willis facing charges for honest services fraud or under federal racketeering statutes, Moore suggested that prosecution might be a distant possibility.
Payment Disparities
He highlighted the need for Willis to explain the payment disparities to Wade, who reportedly received $650,000 for the case.
Wade’s Billing Rate
The question about payment disparities arose after the New York Post reported that Wade was billing the DA’s office at a rate of $250 per hour in November and December 2021 for his work on the case against Trump despite having no prior experience in state racketeering law.
Lower Billing Rate
In contrast, another prosecutor on the team, John Floyd, with considerable expertise in racketeering law, billed at a rate of $150 per hour during the same months.
“Courtroom to Become a Circus”
The former attorney emphasized, “No judge wants the courtroom to become a circus. The problem with these kinds of allegations is it has a tendency to make a case a circus as opposed to the facts of the case.”
Race as a Defense
Willis recently defended Wade in a speech at an Atlanta church, questioning if a Black man’s achievements are ever enough for recognition.
“They Only Attacked One”
She said, “They only attacked one. First thing they say, ‘Oh, she’s gonna play the race card now. But no God, isn’t it them that’s playing the race card when they only question one.”
Other Prosecutors Not Targeted
Willis suggests that the other two White prosecutors she hired for the case, John Floyd and Anna Green Cross, were not targeted.
Critique on Race-Based Defense
Moore critiqued this defense, stating, “I don’t think you can use race as a sword to attack somebody, clearly, nor do I think you can use it as a shield to hide behind.
Integrity of Legal Proceedings
Moore has previously advised Willis to recuse herself from the Trump case, given the allegations. He indicated that if the allegations prove to be true, they would cast doubt on the integrity of the proceedings.
“Improper” Relationship
Michael Roman, a co-defendant with Trump and a former campaign official, accused Willis and Wade of an “improper” romantic relationship, potentially jeopardizing the integrity of the 2020 election interference case.
Call for Case Dismissal
Roman has called for the dismissal of the charges and disqualification of the entire district attorney’s office from the case.
Advice to Willis
Moore suggests Willis should prioritize the facts of the Trump case over her political career by stepping aside.
Case Bigger Than Prosecutor’s Career
He said, “I really think that in this type of case, with these allegations, this case is bigger than any one prosecutor. And I think, probably, to preserve the case and to show that what’s of most importance to her is the facts of the Trump case, as opposed to her political career.”
Indictment Against Trump
Willis indicted former President Trump on charges related to alleged attempts to interfere with the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia in August 2023.
Not Guilty Plea
Trump has pleaded not guilty to these charges, including violations of Georgia’s anti-racketeering law.
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