Fani Willis: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia
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{{short description|American district attorney (born 1971)}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Fani Willis
| office1 = [[District Attorney]] of [[Fulton County, Georgia|Fulton County]]
| term_start1 = January 1, 2021
| term_end1 =
| predecessor1 = Paul Howard Jr.
| successor1 =
| image = Fani Willis 2024.jpg
| office2 = Judge of the [[South Fulton, Georgia]] [[Courts of Georgia (U.S. state)|Municipal Court]]
| term_start2 = 2019
| term_end2 = 2020
| predecessor2 = Tiffany Sellers
| successor2 = Michael L. Sheridan
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|10|27}}<ref name="Binelli-2023">{{cite news | first=Mark | last=Binelli | title=Fani Willis Took On Atlanta's Gangs. Now She May Be Coming For Trump. | work=The New York Times | date=February 2, 2023 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/02/magazine/fani-willis-trump.html | access-date=April 10, 2023 | archive-date=April 11, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411141015/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/02/magazine/fani-willis-trump.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="WillisBD">{{cite web |title=Happy Birthday Fani T. Willis! |url=https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=382309139548543 |publisher=Fani Willis for DA |access-date=April 1, 2024 |date=October 27, 2020}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Inglewood, California]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| children = 2
| spouse = {{marriage|Fred Willis|1996|2005|reason=divorced}}
| education = [[Howard University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[Emory University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
| caption = Willis in 2024
| website = {{URL|https://fultoncountyga.gov/districtattorney|Office website}}<br/>{{URL|https://www.faniforda.com/|Campaign website}}
}}
'''Fani Taifa Willis'''<ref name="Rose-2021">{{Cite web |url=https://southatlantamagazine.com/2021/01/20/fultoncountyda/ |title=You Can Call Her Madam DA; Fani Willis on Making History As Fulton County's First Woman District Attorney |date=January 20, 2021 |work=South Atlanta Magazine |first=Ashtin |last=Rose |access-date=July 7, 2022 |archive-date=July 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707085825/https://southatlantamagazine.com/2021/01/20/fultoncountyda/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> ({{née|'''Floyd'''}}; {{IPAc-en|f|ɑː|n|iː}}, {{Respell|FAH|nee}};<ref name="Rose-2021"/> born October 27, 1971)<ref name="Binelli-2023" /><ref name="WillisBD" /> is an American attorney. She is the [[district attorney]] of [[Fulton County, Georgia]], which contains most of [[Atlanta]], serving since 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Patricia |last2=Bluestein |first2=Greg |last3=Mitchell |first3=Tia |date=February 12, 2021 |title=The Jolt: Fani Willis takes center stage in the Trump show |work=[[Atlanta Journal Constitution]] |url=https://www.ajc.com/politics/politics-blog/the-jolt-fani-willis-takes-center-stage-in-trump-show/3GHH7FS3FFAY3NVJ23YB2L3PIQ/ |access-date=February 13, 2021 |archive-date=February 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212142058/https://www.ajc.com/politics/politics-blog/the-jolt-fani-willis-takes-center-stage-in-trump-show/3GHH7FS3FFAY3NVJ23YB2L3PIQ/ |url-status=live}}</ref> She is the first woman to hold the office.<ref name="fcg">{{cite web |title=Fani T. Willis, Fulton County District Attorney |url=https://fultoncountyga.gov/inside-fulton-county/fulton-county-departments/district-attorney/da-executive-team/fani-willis |publisher=Fulton County Government |access-date=May 15, 2022 |date=2022 |archive-date=March 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305110130/https://fultoncountyga.gov/inside-fulton-county/fulton-county-departments/district-attorney/da-executive-team/fani-willis |url-status=live }}</ref> Willis [[2020 Georgia election investigation|investigated the 2020 presidential election in Georgia]], which resulted in indictments against [[Donald Trump]] and 18 alleged co-conspirators on charges of [[racketeering]] and other crimes.
==Early life and education==
Willis was born in [[Inglewood, California]]. Her father, John C. Floyd III, was a founder of a faction of the [[Black Panther Party|Black Panthers]] but grew disillusioned by the movement's infighting.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=McWhirter |first1=Cameron |last2=Wolfe |first2=Jan |date=2023-07-16 |title=Fani Willis: The No-Nonsense Georgia Prosecutor on a Collision Course With Donald Trump |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/fani-willis-the-no-nonsense-georgia-prosecutor-on-a-collision-course-with-donald-trump-600b88f8 |access-date=2024-01-10 |work=[[Wall Street Journal]] |archive-date=August 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.phtoday/20230815153903/https://www.wsj.com/articles/fani-willis-the-no-nonsense-georgia-prosecutor-on-a-collision-course-with-donald-trump-600b88f8 |url-status=live }}</ref> When Willis was in the first grade, her family moved to [[Washington, D.C.]], where her father practiced law as a [[criminal defense attorney]]. Her parents divorced and her mother eventually moved back to [[California]]. Willis mostly stayed with her father.<ref name="Binelli-2023" />
She graduated from [[Regina High School (Maryland)|Regina High School]], in Maryland,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ballotready.org/ga/276403/fani-willis | title=Your ballot explained | access-date=February 16, 2024 | archive-date=February 15, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240215174841/https://www.ballotready.org/ga/276403/fani-willis | url-status=live }}</ref> an all-girls Catholic High School that closed in 1989.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://cnsmaryland.org/1996/10/04/catholic-high-school-celebrating-50-years-of-accomplishments/ | title=Catholic High School Celebrating 50 Years of Accomplishments | date=October 4, 1996 | access-date=February 16, 2024 | archive-date=February 15, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240215175338/https://cnsmaryland.org/1996/10/04/catholic-high-school-celebrating-50-years-of-accomplishments/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Willis studied [[political science]] at [[Howard University]], graduating ''[[Latin honors#United States|cum laude]]'' in 1993, then moved to Atlanta<ref name="Binelli-2023" /> to attend [[Emory University School of Law]], graduating in 1996 with a [[Juris Doctor]].<ref name="fcg" />
== Early career ==
Willis' first government job was as a solicitor, prosecuting misdemeanors and city ordinance violations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Booth |first=Michael |title=Balancing the Scales of Justice |url=http://southatlantamagazine.com/2022/10/25/justice/ |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=South Atlanta Magazine |language=en-US |archive-date=January 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110103658/https://southatlantamagazine.com/2022/10/25/justice/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She spent 16 years as a prosecutor in the Fulton County [[district attorney]]'s office. Her most prominent case was her prosecution of the [[Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal]]. Willis, an assistant district attorney at the time, served as lead prosecutor in the 2014 to 2015 trial of twelve educators accused of correcting answers entered by students to inflate the scores of state administered standardized tests. Eleven of the twelve were convicted of racketeering under Georgia's [[RICO]] statute in April 2015.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Corson |first=Pete |title=The APS cheating trial sentences |language=English |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/aps-trial-verdicts/ |access-date=August 15, 2023 |issn=1539-7459 |archive-date=August 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815192333/https://www.ajc.com/news/aps-trial-verdicts/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2018, she went into private practice.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Umontuen |first=Itoro |date=August 12, 2020 |title=Fani Willis will become the next Fulton County DA, beating six-term incumbent Paul Howard |work=The Atlanta Voice |url=https://www.theatlantavoice.com/articles/fani-willis-beats-six-term-incumbent-paul-howard/ |access-date=February 13, 2021 |archive-date=March 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313132200/https://www.theatlantavoice.com/articles/fani-willis-beats-six-term-incumbent-paul-howard/ |url-status=live}}</ref> That year, she ran for a seat on the Fulton County Superior Court, and lost.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Catts |first=Everett |date=April 16, 2020 |title=Howard, Smith and Willis warring for Fulton's district attorney post |work=The Neighbor |url=https://www.mdjonline.com/neighbor_newspapers/howard-smith-and-willis-warring-for-fultons-district-attorney-post/article_4acb1ba2-7fc0-11ea-8877-03d0c39dee2c.html |access-date=February 13, 2021 |archive-date=May 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200523205153/https://www.mdjonline.com/neighbor_newspapers/howard-smith-and-willis-warring-for-fultons-district-attorney-post/article_4acb1ba2-7fc0-11ea-8877-03d0c39dee2c.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, Willis became Chief Municipal Judge for [[South Fulton, Georgia]].<ref name="Ross-2021" />
==District attorney of Fulton County==
In 2020, Willis was elected district attorney for Fulton County, defeating Paul Howard Jr., a six-term incumbent and her former boss.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Boone |first=Christian |date=August 14, 2020 |title=After historic victory, Fani Willis plans transformation of Fulton DA's office |work=[[Atlanta Journal Constitution]] |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/after-historic-victory-fani-willis-plans-transformation-of-fulton-das-office/ESMGVJXELBFPRDC2NBXSLJAGSU/ |access-date=February 13, 2021 |archive-date=February 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206092056/https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/after-historic-victory-fani-willis-plans-transformation-of-fulton-das-office/ESMGVJXELBFPRDC2NBXSLJAGSU/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=McDonald |first=R. Robin |date=August 11, 2020 |title=Fani Willis Sweeps Paul Howard to Take Over as Fulton County DA |work=[[Law.com]] |url=https://www.law.com/dailyreportonline/2020/08/11/fani-willis-sweeps-paul-howard-to-take-over-as-fulton-county-da/?slreturn=20210113085551 |access-date=February 13, 2021 |archive-date=April 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425134854/https://www.law.com/dailyreportonline/2020/08/11/fani-willis-sweeps-paul-howard-to-take-over-as-fulton-county-da/?slreturn=20210113085551 |url-status=live}}</ref> In this role she is known for successfully using Georgia's RICO statute to prosecute non-mobsters,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-09-29 |title=Trial Opens in Atlanta School Cheating Scandal (Published 2014) |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/30/us/racketeering-trial-opens-in-altanta-schools-cheating-scandal.html |access-date=2023-08-15 |last1=Fausset |first1=Richard |archive-date=August 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818115519/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/30/us/racketeering-trial-opens-in-altanta-schools-cheating-scandal.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and, as of 2023, is using the same statute to prosecute former president [[Donald Trump]] and 18 alleged co-conspirators.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-08-15 |title=Here's who else was charged in Georgia (other than Trump) |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/08/15/georgia-indictment-charges/ |access-date=2023-08-15 |newspaper=Washington Post |archive-date=August 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815120113/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/08/15/georgia-indictment-charges/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2022, an employee in the Fulton County District Attorney's Office alleged that Willis fired her for uncovering plans to misuse federal grant funding.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 31, 2022 |title=Whistleblower lawsuit against Fulton DA claims misuse of funds |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/whistleblower-lawsuit-against-fulton-da-claims-misuse-of-funds/DZN6EN6HLJGRRHXUMEAQBSGVBU/ |newspaper=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=March 15, 2024 |archive-date=February 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226223801/https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/whistleblower-lawsuit-against-fulton-da-claims-misuse-of-funds/DZN6EN6HLJGRRHXUMEAQBSGVBU/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2024, the [[House Judiciary Committee]], chaired by [[Jim Jordan]], subpoenaed Willis regarding the former employee's whistleblower complaint after a taped conversation of the employee discussing the alleged misuse of federal funds with Willis was released publicly.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 2, 2024 |title=U.S. House committee subpoenas Fani Willis over federal grant funds |url=https://www.ajc.com/politics/house-committee-subpoenas-willis-over-federal-grant-funds/6R2F5CWQPZASTEPJKWQZD3BC5U/ |newspaper=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=March 15, 2024 |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308073258/https://www.ajc.com/politics/house-committee-subpoenas-willis-over-federal-grant-funds/6R2F5CWQPZASTEPJKWQZD3BC5U/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 14, 2024 |title=Jordan threatens Fani Willis with contempt over subpoena on federal grants |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4532378-jordan-threatens-fani-willis-with-contempt-over-subpoena-on-federal-grants/ |newspaper=The Hill |access-date=March 15, 2024 |archive-date=March 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315164329/https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4532378-jordan-threatens-fani-willis-with-contempt-over-subpoena-on-federal-grants/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The committee gave Willis a deadline of February 23.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boboltz |first=Sara |date=2024-02-02 |title=House GOP Subpoenas Fani Willis, Georgia Prosecutor Who Charged Trump |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/house-gop-subpoenas-fani-willis_n_65bd0033e4b05c8779f8effe |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=HuffPost |language=en |archive-date=March 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240324034628/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/house-gop-subpoenas-fani-willis_n_65bd0033e4b05c8779f8effe |url-status=live }}</ref> Willis said that the employee was "terminated for cause" and that the $488,000 in federal grant funding was utilized appropriately.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 2, 2024 |title=House GOP Subpoenas Fulton County DA Fani Willis Amid Trump Criminal Case |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2024/02/02/house-gop-subpoenas-fulton-county-da-fani-willis-amid-trump-criminal-case/?sh=7663e27078c7 |newspaper=Forbes |access-date=March 15, 2024 |archive-date=March 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315164329/https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2024/02/02/house-gop-subpoenas-fulton-county-da-fani-willis-amid-trump-criminal-case/?sh=7663e27078c7 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Willis ran for reelection in 2024. In the Democratic Party primary election, she defeated Christian Wise Smith. Willis will face Republican Courtney Kramer in the November general election.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/fani-willis-scott-mcafee-trump-georgia-indictment-6e55b3a7eafd66c6ae3dae3a50d3187a |title=Fani Willis and judge presiding over Georgia Trump election case defeat challengers |first=Kate |last=Brumback |work=Associated Press |date=May 21, 2024 |access-date=May 22, 2024}}</ref>
===2020 election influence investigation===
{{Main|2020 Georgia election investigation|Georgia election racketeering prosecution}}
On February 10, 2021, Willis launched a criminal investigation into [[Donald Trump]]'s attempts to influence Georgia election officials—including the [[Governor of Georgia|governor]], the [[Attorney General of Georgia|attorney general]], and [[Georgia Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] [[Brad Raffensperger]] via [[Trump–Raffensperger phone call|a telephone call]]—to "find" enough votes to override [[Joe Biden]]'s win in that state and thus [[Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election|undo Biden's victory]] in the [[U.S. presidential election, 2020|2020 presidential election]].<ref name="Hakim-2021">{{cite web |last1=Hakim |first1=Danny |last2=Fausset |first2=Richard |date=February 13, 2021 |title=In Georgia, a New District Attorney Starts Circling Trump and His Allies |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/13/us/politics/fani-willis-trump.html |accessdateaccess-date=February 13, 2021 |archive-date=February 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213101033/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/13/us/politics/fani-willis-trump.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Morris-2021">{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/02/10/politics/trump-georgia-criminal-investigation-election/index.html |title=Prosecutors in Georgia open criminal investigation into Trump's attempt to influence election results |last1=Morris |first1=Jason |last2=Cole |first2=Devan |date=February 10, 2021 |work=[[CNN]] |accessdateaccess-date=February 12, 2021 |archive-date=February 10, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210193615/https://edition.cnn.com/2021/02/10/politics/trump-georgia-criminal-investigation-election/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Fausset-2021">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/10/us/politics/trump-georgia-investigation.html |title=Georgia Prosecutors Open Criminal Inquiry Into Trump's Efforts to Subvert Election |last1=Fausset |first1=Richard |last2=Hakim |first2=Danny |date=February 10, 2021 |work=[[The New York Times]] |accessdateaccess-date=February 12, 2021 |archive-date=February 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210193830/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/10/us/politics/trump-georgia-investigation.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2022, she requested a [[special jury|special]] [[grand jury]] to consider charges of election interference by Trump and his allies.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/06/us/politics/trump-election-interference-investigation.html |title=Georgia Grand Jury Looms in Trump Inquiry |last1=Hakim |first1=Danny |last2=Fausset |first2=Richard |date=November 6, 2021 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=November 7, 2021 |archive-date=January 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114030645/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/06/us/politics/trump-election-interference-investigation.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/breaking-fulton-da-requests-special-grand-jury-for-trump-probe/E5HCDM2P75ETRAEUHBK2Q7L3FY/ |title=Fulton DA requests special grand jury for Trump probe |work=[[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]] |first=Tamar |last=Hallerman |date=January 20, 2022 |accessdateaccess-date=January 20, 2022 |archive-date=January 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121040424/https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/breaking-fulton-da-requests-special-grand-jury-for-trump-probe/E5HCDM2P75ETRAEUHBK2Q7L3FY/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In May, a 26-member special grand jury was given investigative authority and [[Subpoena|subpoena power]] and tasked with submitting a report to the judge and Willis on whether a crime was committed.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/02/politics/grand-jury-fulton-county-georgia-trump-election/index.html |title=Grand jury selected in Fulton County probe of Trump election interference in Georgia |work=[[CNN]] |first1=Sara |last1=Murray |first2=Jason |last2=Morris |date=May 2, 2022 |accessdateaccess-date=May 2, 2022 |archive-date=May 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503011246/https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/02/politics/grand-jury-fulton-county-georgia-trump-election/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
Willis sent [[target letter]]s to people being investigated related to the [[Trump fake electors plot|fake electors plot]]. These include two Republican officials—State Senator [[Brandon Beach]] and [[David Shafer (politician)|David Shafer]], chairman of the [[Georgia Republican Party]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fausset |first1=Richard |last2=Hakim |first2=Danny |date=July 15, 2022 |title=Prosecutor Warns Georgia Officials They May Face Charges in Trump Inquiry: The investigation could prove to be one of the most perilous legal problems facing the former president and his allies. |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/15/us/georgia-investigation-trump.html |accessdateaccess-date=July 15, 2022 |archive-date=July 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715233030/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/15/us/georgia-investigation-trump.html |url-status=live }}</ref>—and the 16 people who falsely presented themselves as [[United States Electoral College|electors]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Visser |first=Nick |date=July 20, 2022 |title=Fake Electors Are Now 'Targets' In Georgia Probe Of Trump's Effort To Overturn 2020 Vote |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/georgia-fake-electors-considered-targets-georgia-investigation_n_62d76c8ee4b000da23f91f8f |access-date=July 20, 2022 |website=[[Huffington Post]] |archive-date=July 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720034800/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/georgia-fake-electors-considered-targets-georgia-investigation_n_62d76c8ee4b000da23f91f8f |url-status=live }}</ref> She also sent a target letter to State Senator [[Burt Jones]], but then a judge ruled she could not target Jones due to a conflict of interest which was created by Willis hosting a fundraiser for the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mangan |first=Dan |date=July 25, 2022 |title=Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis disqualified from investigating Trump 'fake elector' in criminal probe |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/25/georgia-prosecutor-fani-willis-barred-from-investigating-trump-fake-elector.html |access-date=August 19, 2022 |website=[[CNBC]] |archive-date=August 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819194939/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/25/georgia-prosecutor-fani-willis-barred-from-investigating-trump-fake-elector.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
After hearing from 75 witnesses—including former US Senator [[Kelly Loeffler]], former White House Counsel [[Pat Cipollone]],<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Murray |first1=Sara |last2=Cohen |first2=Zachary |last3=Perez |first3=Evan |date=October 20, 2022 |title=First on CNN: Former White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, former US Sen. Kelly Loeffler testify to grand jury in Georgia investigating 2020 election interference {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/20/politics/kelly-loeffler-pat-cipollone-georgia-special-grand-jury/index.html |access-date=October 20, 2022 |website=CNN |archive-date=October 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020220521/https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/20/politics/kelly-loeffler-pat-cipollone-georgia-special-grand-jury/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and possibly [[Sidney Powell]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 26, 2022 |title=Trump election probe in Georgia cites voting system breach |work=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-voting-donald-trump-georgia-6c5483c82b47cf402136b39e72326309 |access-date=August 27, 2022 |archive-date=August 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220831075523/https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-voting-donald-trump-georgia-6c5483c82b47cf402136b39e72326309 |url-status=live }}</ref>—the special grand jury completed its work and was dissolved on January 9, 2023. On February 16, following a judge's order, parts of the report were released.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Mangan |first1=Dan |last2=Breuninger |first2=Kevin |date=February 16, 2023 |title=Georgia grand jury recommends perjury indictments in Trump election meddling probe |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/16/trump-grand-jury-recommends-perjury-indictments-finds-no-fraud-in-georgia-2020-election.html |access-date=February 16, 2023 |website=CNBC |archive-date=February 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216175348/https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/16/trump-grand-jury-recommends-perjury-indictments-finds-no-fraud-in-georgia-2020-election.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
Willis's office indicted Trump and 18 others on 41 charges on August 14, 2023, including 13 charges against Trump.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trump Indicted in Georgia: Prosecutors Accuse Trump of 'Criminal Enterprise' to Overturn Election |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/08/14/us/trump-indictment-georgia-election |access-date=August 15, 2023 |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=August 14, 2023 |archive-date=August 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814171813/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/08/14/us/trump-indictment-georgia-election |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2024, Judge Scott McAfee quashed 6 charges, including 3 against Trump, while giving prosecutors the option to refile these charges.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 13, 2024 |title=Judge Quashes Six Charges in Georgia Election Case Against Trump |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/13/us/donald-trump-charges-quashed-georgia-mcafee.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=March 16, 2024 |archive-date=March 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316135346/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/13/us/donald-trump-charges-quashed-georgia-mcafee.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 13, 2024 |title=Judge in Georgia election interference case quashes some charges against Trump |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/03/13/1238260873/georgia-trump-case-solicitation-counts-dropped |website=NPR |access-date=March 16, 2024 |archive-date=March 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316135346/https://www.npr.org/2024/03/13/1238260873/georgia-trump-case-solicitation-counts-dropped |url-status=live}}</ref>
On January 8, 2024, a defendant filed a pre-trial motion to dismiss the indictment and disqualify Willis and her office from prosecuting the RICO case against them due to Willis having a conflict of interest related to her personal relationship with lead prosecutor Nathan Wade.<ref name="Hallerman-2024">{{Cite news |last1=Hallerman |first1=Tamar |last2=Rankin |first2=Bill |date=February 2, 2024 |title=Fulton DA Fani Willis says relationship with Trump prosecutor shouldn't disqualify her |url=https://www.ajc.com/politics/breaking-fulton-special-prosecutor-admits-personal-relationship-with-da-in-trump-case/YOPP3SAOJVHUDESW3RR6UWTB2E/ |accessdateaccess-date=February 2, 2024 |newspaper=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]] |archive-date=February 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202185228/https://www.ajc.com/politics/breaking-fulton-special-prosecutor-admits-personal-relationship-with-da-in-trump-case/YOPP3SAOJVHUDESW3RR6UWTB2E/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Cohen-2024">{{Cite news |last1=Cohen |first1=Zachary |last2=Morris |first2=Jason |last3=Rabinowitz |first3=Hannah |last4=Lybrand |first4=Holmes |date=February 2, 2024 |title=Fulton County DA acknowledges personal relationship with lead prosecutor on Trump case, but says it doesn't disqualify her |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/02/politics/fani-willis-response/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202204233/https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/02/politics/fani-willis-response/index.html |archive-date=February 2, 2024 |accessdateaccess-date=February 2, 2024 |work=[[CNN]]}}</ref> On February 15, 2024, Judge [[Scott F. McAfee]] started an evidentiary hearing where he subsequently ruled on March 15, 2024, that either Willis - along with her office - or Wade must leave the case, because their relationship brought about a "significant appearance of impropriety".<ref>{{cite news |title=Judge indicates he will rule within next 2 weeks on bid to remove Fani Willis from Trump case |url=https://apnews.com/article/fani-willis-trump-legal-arguments-georgia-0ede9d18ae072efd6d71f38ea4705beb |work=[[Associated Press]] |date=March 1, 2024 |access-date=March 15, 2024 |archive-date=March 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315165512/https://apnews.com/article/fani-willis-trump-legal-arguments-georgia-0ede9d18ae072efd6d71f38ea4705beb |url-status=live }}</ref> He found no conflict of interest as there was insufficient evidence Willis had benefited financially.<ref name="Eggleston">{{cite news |last1=Quinn |first1=Melissa |last2=Eggleston |first2=Jared |date=March 15, 2024 |title=Fani Willis and her office can stay on Trump Georgia 2020 election case if Nathan Wade steps aside, judge rules |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/willis-trump-georgia-2020-election-case/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315132131/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/willis-trump-georgia-2020-election-case/ |archive-date=March 15, 2024 |access-date=March 15, 2024 |work=[[CBS News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Alexander |first1=Blayne |last2=Gregorian |first2=Dareh |last3=Gile |first3=Charlie |date=March 15, 2024 |title=Fulton County DA Fani Willis case against Trump can continue if she or special prosecutor Wade remove themselves, judge rules |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/fani-willis-trump-georgia-rcna139810 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315125843/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/fani-willis-trump-georgia-rcna139810 |archive-date=March 15, 2024 |access-date=March 15, 2024 |work=[[NBC News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=March 15, 2024 |title=Judge Says Fani Willis Can Stay on Georgia Trump Case—if Deputy Steps Asides |url=https://www.wsj.com/us-news/judge-says-fani-willis-can-stay-on-georgia-trump-caseif-deputy-steps-aside-04790a42?mod=hpalead_pos4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315162950/https://www.wsj.com/us-news/judge-says-fani-willis-can-stay-on-georgia-trump-caseif-deputy-steps-aside-04790a42?mod=hpalead_pos4 |archive-date=March 15, 2024 |access-date=March 15, 2024 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=March 15, 2024 |title=Takeaways from the scathing ruling that allows DA Fani Willis to remain on the Trump election subversion case |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/15/politics/takeaways-mcafee-willis-wade-trump/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315162950/https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/15/politics/takeaways-mcafee-willis-wade-trump/index.html |archive-date=March 15, 2024 |access-date=March 15, 2024 |work=[[CNN]]}}</ref> Based on the Judge's ruling, Nathan Wade resigned from the case a few hours later in order "...to move this case forward as quickly as possible."<ref>{{cite news |title=Lead prosecutor in Georgia election case resigns following judge's decision allowing DA Fani Willis to stay on |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/judge-trump-election-case-expected-rule-today-effort/story?id=106227075 |work=[[ABC News]] |date=March 15, 2024 |access-date=March 15, 2024 |archive-date=March 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315191744/https://abcnews.go.com/US/judge-trump-election-case-expected-rule-today-effort/story?id=106227075 |url-status=live }}</ref> In May 2024, the [[Georgia Court of Appeals]] agreed to hear an appeal to the ruling, revisiting whether Willis may be allowed to stay on the case.<ref>{{cite news |title=Georgia Court Will Hear Appeal of Ruling That Kept Prosecutor on Trump Case |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/08/us/trump-fani-willis-appeals-court.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 8, 2024 }}</ref>
===Atlanta gang indictments===
In May 2022, Willis' office indicted [[Young Thug]] for 56 counts of gang-related crimes under Georgia's [[RICO]] statute and felony charges for possession of illicit firearms and drugs that were allegedly discovered after a search warrant was executed. The rapper has been held in [[Cobb County, Georgia|Cobb County]] jail since his arrest.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Staten |first1=Adam |title=Young Thug's 'Torturous' Jail Condition Complaints Dismissed by Officials |url=https://www.newsweek.com/young-thugs-torturous-jail-condition-complaints-dismissed-officials-georgia-1707816 |access-date=May 18, 2022 |work=[[Newsweek]] |date=May 18, 2022 |archive-date=May 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518233117/https://www.newsweek.com/young-thugs-torturous-jail-condition-complaints-dismissed-officials-georgia-1707816 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Brown-2023">{{cite web | last=Brown | first=Preezy | title=Young Thug Leaves Prison To Attend His Sister's Funeral | website=Vibe | date=April 4, 2023 | url=https://www.vibe.com/news/national/young-thug-prison-sister-funeral-1234746424/ | access-date=August 15, 2023 | archive-date=August 15, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815143515/https://www.vibe.com/news/national/young-thug-prison-sister-funeral-1234746424/ | url-status=live }}</ref> The trial began on November 27, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rubin |first=Jordan |date=2023-11-28 |title=Young Thug trial kicks off with messy opening statement from Fani Willis' office |url=https://www.msnbc.com/deadline-white-house/deadline-legal-blog/young-thug-trial-ysl-rico-georgia-rcna126900 |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=MSNBC.com |language=en |archive-date=January 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110094049/https://www.msnbc.com/deadline-white-house/deadline-legal-blog/young-thug-trial-ysl-rico-georgia-rcna126900 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Personal life==
On the day she took the Georgia [[bar exam]], Willis met Fred Willis, who was working an extra job as a [[videographer]]. They married in 1996 and have two daughters.<ref name="Ross-2021" /> They divorced in 2005.<ref name="Ross-2021">{{cite magazine |url=https://time.com/6099301/fani-willis-atlanta/ |title=Atlanta's First Black Female District Attorney Is at the Center of America's Converging Crises |first=Janell |last=Ross |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=September 28, 2021 |accessdateaccess-date=February 13, 2023 |archive-date=November 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105174705/https://time.com/6099301/fani-willis-atlanta/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
==References==
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[[Category:21st-century African-American lawyers]]
[[Category:Donald Trump prosecutions]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American women politicians]]
[[Category:People associated with the 2024 United States presidential election]]