An Empty Podium Speaks Volumes For Fani Willis...

This decision left her Democratic opponent, Christian Wise Smith, debating against an empty podium.

Willis has been under scrutiny for appointing her romantic partner, Nathan Wade, to work on the case against former President Donald Trump. This decision, coupled with the fact that she allowed Wade to pay for their shared vacations, drew sharp criticism from Judge Scott McAfee in a March ruling. While the ruling did not grant the defendants' request to disqualify Willis, it did necessitate Wade's resignation from the case.

April 30, 2024

During the debate, Smith did not explicitly state that he would halt the Trump case if elected. However, he stressed the need for Willis to change her approach. "When you pay one attorney nearly $1 million to handle one case, that leaves the rest of us vulnerable," Smith stated, indirectly referring to Wade, who was paid at a higher rate than the state's leading racketeering expert, according to contracts obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation. "That hurts everyone in Fulton County."

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Willis had granted Wade a contract at $250 an hour, while John Floyd, Georgia's top racketeering expert, was earning only $200 an hour, as previously reported by the DCNF. Contracts were also given to Wade's law partner by Willis' office. Smith, who previously worked in the same office, stated, "my salary was significantly less than what that attorney was paid. And I was responsible for handling a lot more cases than one."

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The defendants are currently appealing McAfee's decision and persist in their efforts to disqualify Willis. Smith, addressing the empty podium, asked, "Hey Miss Willis, how you doing? My question is, where are you?" He went on to question Willis' commitment to the citizens and families of Fulton County, suggesting she may be prioritizing events such as the White House correspondents dinner and fundraising activities over her constituents.

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In their testimonies, Willis and Wade claimed that they split expenses approximately equally, with Willis reimbursing Wade in cash. They also maintained that their relationship began only after Wade was hired, a claim contradicted by a long-time friend of Willis who testified that it began in 2019. In his March ruling, McAfee noted there were "reasonable questions" about the truthfulness of Willis and Wade's testimonies regarding the timeline of their relationship.