Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has continued working on the prosecution of former President Trump for election interference despite recent legal challenges seeking her disqualification.
Willis stated the investigation is still moving forward on schedule and said “the train is coming” for Trump and his co-defendants.
“While that was going on, we were writing responsive briefs, we were still doing the case in a way that it needed to be done. I don’t feel like we’ve been slowed down at all. I do think there are efforts to slow down this train, but the train is coming,” Willis said.
“We’re not going to miss or skip a beat because of all the noise or distraction on one case. We’re going to continue to do our work,” she added.
“I’m not embarrassed by anything I’ve done. I guess my greatest crime is I had a relationship with a man, but that’s not something I find embarrassing in any way. And I know that I have not done anything that’s illegal,” Willis said.
“I am not a perfect human being, but what I am is a hard-working human being, and a human being that loves the community I serve and who understands this seat does not belong to me, it belongs to the people,” Willis added. “And as long as I’m here, I’m going to try to do the job in a way that’s honorable.”
Some legal experts criticized Willis’ comments as potentially violating prosecutorial ethics rules against statements intended to heighten public condemnation of the accused.
While Willis said she remains open to potential plea deals, experts said her comments implied defendants who sought her disqualification may now receive less favorable terms.
Experts argued Willis’ statements could undermine the credibility and impartiality of the case, though may not directly impact its legal outcome.
“Prosecutors announcing at the outset of a case who they’re indicting, the charges being brought and why is fine, but they should not make public statements that have no legitimate law enforcement purpose even in the context of a political campaign,” Atlanta defense attorney Andrew Fleischman said.
“They strengthen arguments for gag orders and disqualification, and they harm the public’s trust that this trial is about holding people accountable for crimes they have committed, rather than as part of an overall political strategy,” Fleischman added.
Willis’ comments sounded like “campaign remarks” that “were really addressed to an audience of voters for the upcoming primary and general election,” Georgia State University law professor Clark Cunningham said.
“Saying that the ‘train is coming’ and implying that the defendants will now get less favorable plea deals because of a motion that was filed seems like it is meant to heighten condemnation of the accused,” Fleischman said.
Fleischman added, “On the other hand, the defense may prefer that she keep talking, and may ask to submit clips of her interviews as evidence at trial.”
“I do think that the credibility of the case has taken a terrible hit because of her conduct,” Cunningham said.
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