Fani Willis' bad judgment raises concerns for her case and the nation, major newspaper reports

Robin Abcarian’s op-ed caused a lot of controversies since the LA Times reporter claimed that “Fani Willis’ inexplicably bad judgment has endangered her case and the nation.”

The DA’s mistake

Fulton County DA Fani Willis, leader of the investigation and prosecution of former President Trump and 18 of his allies for attempting to reverse Georgia’s 2020 election results, found herself in uncharted waters after her affair with a coworker was exposed.

The question of profit

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At the center of it is the question of whether Willis or prosecutor Nathan Wade “profited” after he was appointed to her case. The allegations claim that Wade was not qualified for the position, raising the question of when the relationship began.

The co-defendant uncovered the affair

Ashleigh Merchant, an attorney for Trump co-defendant Michael Roman, alleged that Willis personally profited from the case against Trump, Roman, and others. The allegations claim that Willis overpaid Wade, and the two took lavish vacations.

Does it matter?

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Abcarian writes that it no longer matters whether Willis profited or not, but “she handed her opponents — on a golden platter — an opening to challenge her integrity.”

“Mind-boggling”

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The LA Times author said she was “disappointed” and found the whole thing “mind-boggling.” Abcarian wondered how come two adults, prosecutors, could not hold back “while working on the most important case of their careers, and one of the most important criminal cases in American history?”

The drama

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The reporter, in her op-ed, asserted that the courtroom provides just as much drama as any other soap opera. To make her point, Abcarian wrote about Willis’s father’s testimony, as well as Fani Willis’s “hostile” and “folksy” testimony. In conclusion, Abcarian reminded us that “the entire country may end up paying for her unforgivable mistake.”

The money

It is alleged that Wade got paid by Fulton County over $650,000 for his work on Trump’s case. The sum is paid by the taxpayers, which is how the whole affair became a national pastime. Similarly, that’s why many want Willis and Wade to recuse themselves. It will end the drama and give the case a chance to see a fair trial.

But there’s another element to consider

Jessica T. Ornsby, a family litigation lawyer, told the AP that “Ms. Willis is being scrutinized for things that are not directly related to her job performance, in ways we see other Black women regularly picked apart.” Many Black women confirmed that Willis is being treated as a criminal.

Many legal experts don’t think Willis would be disqualified

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Barbara McQuade, a former U.S. attorney under the Obama administration and MSNBC legal analyst, wrote on X, “Fani Willis made a terrible decision to date Nathan Wade, and that may bring ethics issues for her, but her testimony dispelled any kickback scheme that would disqualify her. Nothing about this affects the fair trial rights of Trump and co-defendants.”

If she gets disqualified, then what?

There is no doubt there would be a delay in the case, which would likely be given to another DA or Republican state Attorney General Christopher Carr. Willis could be disqualified “if evidence is produced demonstrating an actual conflict or the appearance of one,” confirmed Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee.

Giving Trump what he wants

Many noted that these hearings only benefit Trump and other co-defendants because of delays. But another thing that people discussed was related to Trump’s allegations of a “witch hunt.” Even if Willis and Wade did nothing wrong, there will always be people wondering if they got away with some form of financial gain.

The recusal

A new op-ed by Richard W. Painter from the Atlantic calls for Willis to step aside. The author notes, “In this instance, the best interest of the public dictates that she withdraw from prosecuting the case.” CNN’s William Cooper called for the prosecutors to “step aside for the sake of the country.”

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