Oh, how I love this Fani Willis story, let me count the ways…Well, really I just loved her demeanor when she went at Trump’s lawyer, Ashley Merchant. If you’re not familiar with Fani Willis’s story, let me summarize it for you right quick.
Fani Willis is the Fulton County (Georgia) district attorney who’s office is prosecuting Trump and 18 other codefendants for their role in trying to falsify the results of the 2020 election. Charges were brought against all 19 by a grand jury.
After being turned down by at least one other attorney, Fani hired Nathan Wade to assist with the case, or maybe he was going to be the lead prosecutor. I’m not sure and have no time to do further research. So anyway, Nathan Wade was hired by Fani, and it was later discovered that Fani and Nathan had a romantic relationship. That’s when Micheal Roman, one of the codefendants, wanted Fani thrown off the case, as well as his case dismissed claiming that Fani financially benefited from Nathan Wade’s hire since they went on trips that he allegedly paid for. So that’s the gest of the matter.
Now, before I go another further, I would just like to present an argument that I have not heard yet. Oh, but before I do that, let me just state that according to what I’ve read and heard from the news coverage, Georgia law does not prohibit Fani from hiring a prosecutor that she’s romantically involved with. So, if that is the case, and this is the argument I haven’t heard, what’s wrong with her financially benefiting from a man that she’s dating? Matter-of-fact, she SHOULD be financially benefiting from the man she is dating. Whatchu doing inviting me on a trip and I have to pay for myself? If I’m paying for myself, I’m going by myself – deuces.
He SHOULD have been paying for those trips – period! And how else he gon pay for the trip other than the money he gets from his job? Now if he was dipping into some other funds specifically earmarked for certain things, like campaign finance funds, or I don’t know, funds that are not for personal use, and he was using money like that to pay for their trips, then yes, that would be a problem. Even still, that would have no bearing on the election-stealing case. Micheal Roman, Donald Trump and the others would still need to stand trial for his actions for which the grand jury decided he needed to be indicted.
I mean if the law allows you to hire your boyfriend, that does not open him up for how he spends his hard earned money to be scrutinized. Now unless there is some law that regulates how someone you are romantically involved with can spend their money once you hire them, I’d say this case was dead on arrival.
However, I can understand how a high-powered woman like Fani Willis would want to pay him back, given her testimony, but as far as I’m concerned, he should have been paying.
Now, I understand that this man’s divorce was not yet final while they were galivanting throughout the country and internationally, but that ain’t none of my business. That’s between them and God. I’m just sticking to the legal accusations in this matter.
But what I loved most about this case is when Fani Wilis took the stand and took control. The opposing lawyers apparently didn’t know who they were messing with. I found it quite refreshing, like a cool drink of water on a hot summer’s day, when Fani displayed her anger on the stand. It was the opposite of how so many of us black women are taught to conduct ourselves in such environments – avoid the appearance of the “angry black woman” stereotype at all costs. Meanwhile not even realizing what all those costs are: heart disease, high-blood pressure, restlessness, anxiety, depression, unable to sleep, taking it out on family and friends etc. Not to mention sending an open letter to everyone else that it’s okay to disrespect you without consequence.
Fani brought that heat. She went toe to toe with those lawyers, Ashley Merchant in particular, and exposed them for the diversion artists that they are. This was my absolute favorite line of Fani’s testimony:
Now I realize there is a time and place for everything. If Ketanji Brown Jackson would have done this in her Supreme Court confirmation hearing, perhaps she wouldn’t be a justice now. Life isn’t fair and sometimes you have to compromise. But I’m so glad Fani understood that this was not one of those times, and she let Ashley know that she was not the one – ha!
In fact, Fani fixed her up so good that the defense declined to question her again the next day even though they were scheduled to do so. They didn’t want anymore of that smoke. I’m guessing they were afraid she was going to make them look even worse than she already did.
Everybody keeps talking about this isn’t a good look for Fani’s office. I say it’s not a good look for the defense. It clearly shows that once again, the defendants are trying to illegally twist the law in their favor, just like they are accused of doing in the election.
Now they’ve established a pattern. And if I were the state, I would use it against them in my argument. I would layout how this is their MO.
So anyway, I was going to write about something totally different tonight. But I was just so excited to see Fani’s testimony that I had to mention it. And I hope it inspires other people who are lied on and mistreated to speak up for themselves.
Oh, and one last thing, I’m bet you Fani Willis isn’t pulled from this case. Okay, that’s all…for now.
Leave a Reply