When Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis took the stand Thursday during Donald Trump’s Georgia election subversion case, she came ready to speak her mind. When Black women are challenged professionally, we will not go down without a fight—as Victor Shi wisely noted on X/Twitter—which is a trait which Willis personified.
Instead of opting out of testifying, she wanted to address rumors of a romantic relationship she allegedly had with Nathan Wade (the man she hired to be part of the prosecution team in 2021). Judge Scott McAfee convened the all-day hearing, which culminated with the testimony of Willis.
The prominent District Attorney showed what a powerhouse she is. Not only did she choose to testify, but she did so with unwavering confidence. Trump co-defendant Michael Roman and his attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, are the ones seeking for the removal of Willis and dismissal of the indictment in the case.
When Merchant questioned Willis, she looked her in the eye as she answered the questions in a direct manner. “I very much want to be here, so I am not a hostile witness,” Willis said on the stand. “We used to be in a day and time where we had ‘60 Minutes’ and people verified information and we had this great reporting, but it seems today a lawyer writes a lie and it’s printed for the world to see,” she continued.
Folks of all backgrounds and ethnicities were split on how Willis handled herself. Quotes like “It’s ridiculous you lied on me on Monday, yet here we still are” as well as “You’re confused…you think I’m on trial... I’m not on trial, no matter how hard you try to put me on trial” have led some folks to call Willis “combative,” “rude” and “unprofessional.”
The right couldn’t wait to label Willis an “affirmative action hire,” “ghetto,” “street,” “hood,” “arrogant,” and “not well spoken.” Considering that several of Trump’s closest associates have already pleaded guilty to the crimes he has been accused of, it’s no surprise conservatives are clinging to racism to detract attention away from the former president.
In addition, in lieu of the corruption that runs rampant in the Supreme Court, the GOP and with Trump (he does have 91 counts of alleged criminal activity pending and owes $440 million in legal fines), the MAGA hypocrisy is glaring. Willis wasn’t being abrasive—she was simply trying to stand up for herself.
Whichever way you look at it, Willis would have been labeled antagonistic no matter what she said merely because she is a Black woman. Her taking control of the courtroom was the only option for Willis—no one else was going to have her back. The alleged affair is being used as fodder for Trump and his legal team to have the election case thrown out.
Even if Willis did engage in an inappropriate relationship with Wade, that doesn’t negate the overwhelming evidence against Trump. Instead of ruthlessly attacking a Black woman, everyone should focus on the best way to make sure that the former president doesn’t take office for a second time.