In a powerful speech at Georgia’s Big Bethel AME Church on the eve of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis boldly confronted allegations of misconduct leveled against her by TrumpWorld. The allegations, made by Ashleigh Merchant, attorney for former Trump campaign official Michael Roman, claimed Willis had an “improper” romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade. Willis, however, turned the tables, highlighting a troubling undercurrent of racial bias in these accusations.
Addressing her decision to appoint three special counselors, Willis expressed confusion over the selective criticism she’s facing. “Why attack only one?”, she questioned, pointing
out the stark difference in the treatment of the three individuals she appointed – a white woman, a white man, and a Black man, all paid equally and selected for their exceptional legal skills.
Willis didn’t directly name Nathan Wade but spoke highly of his impeccable credentials. She emphasized his extensive experience as a judge, private practice lawyer, and prosecutor. Intriguingly, she pointed out the discrepancy in the perception of Wade’s competence, underscoring how he was deemed perfectly acceptable and even paid double by a Republican in another county.
Anticipating criticism that she might be playing the race card, Willis flipped the script, suggesting that the real issue at hand was the racial bias of her opponents. She questioned why only the Black man she appointed was under scrutiny and challenged the assumption that she needed outside help to do her job, despite her nearly three decades of experience.
Her speech poignantly touched on the deeper societal problem where the achievements and qualifications of a Black man are perennially questioned or overlooked due to racial prejudice. Willis’ comments struck a chord during the MLK Day celebrations, reminding the audience of the ongoing struggle against racial bias and the need for equality and recognition in all professional fields.
