Tag: Fani Willis

The Perfect Storm?

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Terrence Bradley took the stand again on Tuesday but contrary to belief, he didn’t deliver much. The defense team gave it their all but they couldn’t break through the tough exterior that Mr. Bradley presented in court. They needed damning evidence to disqualify Fulton County DA Fani Willis and Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade from the case but none was forthcoming. It was more than a frustrating day for them.

What had started out as a storm in a teacup is now brewing into a full-blown tornado. Fani Willis and Nathan Wade had a romantic relationship there is no question about that. However, they are denying that Willis profited financially from hiring Wade to work on the Trump case. Star witness, Bradley, seemed to have lost all recollection of what he had said, what was conveyed to him to the point of even asking that the questions be repeated over and over again. Which begs the question, “Speak English Much?”

All the President’s Men and one woman, make that ex-president, could not bring their runaway horse to a standstill. Trump and his allies, a dozen of them, were charged with violating the Georgia state racketeering statute when they tried to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia by advancing fake electors and going so far as to pressure state officials into reversing Trump’s defeat.

If DA Willis is disqualified and removed from the case, the prosecution of Trump and his allies would be thrown into limbo. The case would be handed over to a state entity called the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia to find someone to take over the case. It would be a complicated and complex not to mention time-consuming affair and that is exactly what the defense team is counting on. If only Mr. Bradley had given up the goods but no luck there.

Mr. Bradley not only came across as a reluctant witness but one who had developed amnesia all of a sudden. There was no budging him into saying what the defense team wanted to hear. “I was speculating and I never witnessed anything. It was speculation,” he said and his inability to confirm anything meant there was no new evidence to add to whether there was a conflict of interest on Willis part.

A brohaha if you ask me. There was nothing to substantiate the allegations that the power couple were involved romantically before Ms. Willis hired Mr. Wade and that was the whole point of getting Mr. Bradley to take the stand again. Looks like it backfired on them royally. Closing arguments will resume on Friday but don’t hold your breath!

DA Fani Willis Dilemma

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Fulton County District Attorney, Fani Willis brought her indictment charges against former President Trump and it went like this:

“Defendant Donald John Trump lost the United States presidential election held on November 3, 2020. One of the states he lost was Georgia. Trump and the other Defendants charged in this indictment refused to accept that Trump lost, and they knowingly and willfully joined a conspiracy to unlawfully change the outcome of the election in favor of Trump.” Furthermore, “That conspiracy contained a common plan and purpose to commit two or more acts of racketeering activity in Fulton County, Georgia, elsewhere in the State of Georgia, and in other states.”

The 41-count indictment involved Trump and 18 others which included such big names as Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, Sidney Powell, Jeffrey Clark and John Eastman. The indictment also charges Trump and his co-conspirators with conspiring to commit election fraud. The crux of the matter lies on two presumptions. First, the indictment rests on state law charges which means Trump can do little little to derail it even if he were to return to the White House because clemency power does not extend to state offences.

Secondly, if the trial is televised and it probably will be because Georgia law allows cameras in the courtroom, citizen Trump will be front and center and on full display. This might not be to his advantage as “Orange Jesus” is known for opening his mouth and inserting his foot in it.

It was looking like a slam dunk case for all purposes if it wasn’t for Fani Willis doing the unthinkable. She is accused of having a romantic relationship with special prosecutor, Nathan Wade, a member of her team which brings about ethical misconduct on her part and may be enough to derail the case and have her removed from the State’s election interference case. Trump and his allies, co-defendants, are claiming that the relationship is a conflict of interest and Willis should be removed from the case and that the case is also politically motivated.

If that isn’t a right royal mess for Ms. Willis, her combative nature on the witness stand and her bombastic testimony with her screaming, “I’m not on trial here!” got our attention, that along with, “When I travel, I always pay cash,” testimony. There were almost no receipts to show for money changing hands and that in itself is a dilemma my lady.

Barbara McQuade, a former U.S. attorney had this to say:

“Fani Willis made a terrible decision to date Nathan Wade, and that may bring ethics issues for her, but her testimony dispelled any kickback scheme that would disqualify her. Nothing about this effects the fair trial right of Trump and co-defendants.”

However, Doug Weinstein, a Georgia lawyer wrote, “I respect her and her office, and putting the Trump trial at risk in this fashion, even if she did nothing wrong, demonstrates poor judgement.”

It seems Ms. Willis has got herself in a pickle this time, perhaps she should take this phrase to heart, “Never eat where you sh**,” and things might just work out better for her the next time around.