Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis defeats attorney and author. Christian Wise Smith In Tuesday’s Georgia Democratic primary, The Associated Press predicts. The 52-year-old prosecutor is fighting for another term as prosecutor as charges against former President Donald Trump and others in the state’s 2020 election interference case are pending in the Georgia Court of Appeals.
“I’m going to keep winning and I’m going to win big,” Willis predicted during an interview with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow on Monday night. “I’m at the stage where I need the voters of Fulton County to get out and vote.”
Willis will face Republican candidate Courtney Cramer in this fall’s general election. Cramer worked as an intern in the White House Counsel’s Office during the Trump administration and served as a litigation consultant for the Trump campaign in Georgia after the 2020 election, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Wise Smith previously challenged Willis in 2020, along with then-incumbent District Attorney Paul Howard.
“People are ready for change,” Wise-Smith told CBS News. “People are tired of the same old, same old people in that office. People want fresh air.”
Wise Smith, 41, on Monday called for Willis to resign. he pointed to a pair of things Republican-led Congressional investigation Investigating the use of federal funds by the district attorney’s office.
Last week, Republican Sens. Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson sent a letter to Willis requesting information about several Department of Justice grants, saying, “The Fulton County Attorney’s Office is misusing these grants to He claimed that he may have financed his travels and the purchase of computers and “stolen goods.” ‘
Wise-Smith said: “This is a very serious job where people trust you to do the right thing, and if there are constant allegations of misappropriation of funds to do so, it’s time to stop.” has arrived,” he said.
The House Judiciary Committee is also investigating district attorney funding and has threatened to sue Willis for contempt of Congress. This month, Chairman Jim Jordan also asked former special prosecutor Nathan Wade, who was romantically involved with Willis, to testify before the committee.
Mr Willis has denied any wrongdoing.
“Jim Jordan has attacked my office time and time again for no legitimate purpose,” Willis said. “He’s now changed his tricks by saying he’s going to look into grant programs, and I’m encouraging him to do that. And we responded to his subpoena, but he’s still not a criminal They continue to attack in an attempt to obstruct the investigation.”
A Georgia Senate committee has also opened an investigation into Willis’ office and signaled it may subpoena her. Willis said the investigation is “not warranted.”
“And it will fail, and it will not go anywhere,” she said.
Willis launched an investigation into former President Trump’s efforts to subvert the election by: overturn the 2020 election in Georgia shortly after she won her first term. Last summer, she announced that Widespread racketeering charges against the former president and 18 co-defendants. Four defendants pleaded guilty.
At the beginning of this year, District Attorney Reveals Romantic Relationship The former special prosecutor in charge of the case, Nathan Wade, and Wade resigned following the resignation of Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee in March. Ruling rejects efforts to disqualify Willis Once Wade steps aside. Mr. McAfee himself won re-election on Tuesday, defeating civil rights attorney and media commentator Robert Pattillo in a bipartisan Associated Press election.
Georgia Court of Appeals agreed to hear the appeal Former President Trump and several co-defendants argued against Willis, arguing that the case could stall beyond the November election.
Election posters have been put up around Fulton County, but Willis doesn’t mention Trump at all in the ads.
“I’ve faced off against gangsters and violent criminals,” Willis said in a television ad airing in metro Atlanta. “America had the third largest crime decline.”
Willis, the first female leader of the Fulton County Prosecutor’s Office, will establish a pre-indictment diversion program that gives offenders a second chance, work to target at-risk youth, and increase transparency in the law. Point out your own experiences in the community, such as: Execution.
Wise Smith founded the National Alliance for Social Justice, a nonprofit organization that fights police brutality, and says her goal, if elected, is to end mass incarceration and “dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline.” It states that. If elected, he said on his first day that he would like to establish a school-based internship and mentoring program. Wisesmith also wants to change the direction of non-violent marijuana and THC cases, expunge old non-violent convictions and put more emphasis on victim-centered crimes.
“Right now, a lot of time is wasted prosecuting marijuana. A lot of time is also wasted prosecuting crimes based on mental illness, drug addiction, and homelessness,” Wise-Smith explained. “If we work with resource providers who can help people rebuild their lives, we have more lawyers, more investigators, more funding, and rape prevention that really impacts our safety. It gives us more time to crack down on robberies, murders and crime.”
Wise-Smith was the only candidate to appear at a debate at the Atlanta Press Club last month, speaking from an empty podium; Willis did not attend.
Wise Smith told CBS News that she would “respect the voters’ decision either way” in the primary, but declined to say whether she would support Willis if she wins. .
Willis hopes to win despite continued difficulties.
“I’m not going to break down and I’m going to continue to stand here and do my job legally,” Willis said.