I have followed The Fani Willis election interference case in Fulton County, Georgia since she sent a letter (Figure 1) to Governor Brian Kemp, and other officials in the State of Georgia government that an investigation has opened into attempts to influence the administration of the 2020 Georgia General Election.
Figure 1. The Letter from the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office opening the investigation into potential violations of Georgia law prohibiting election fraud, racketeering, violation of oath of office and other infractions of the law.
Since February 10, 2021, as the district attorney, Fani Willis has taken on the responsibility of pursuing justice in a complex and high-profile legal battle involving 19 defendants, including former President Donald Trump. Over that time, a Special Grand Jury interviewed at least 75 witnesses including high profilers including Rudi Giuliani, Mark Meadows, Sen. Lindsey Graham, Gov. Brian Kemp, Sec. of State Brad Raffensperger, John Eastman, Newt Gingrich, Sidney Powell, and David Shafer. The complete Grand Jury report will released on September 8 by Superior Court Judge Robert McBirney.
In my view, District Attorney Willis is one of the first elected prosecutors to take action against former president Trump’s actions to undo the 2020 election and unlawfully stay in office.
When she took the podium at the Fulton County courthouse on August 14, 2023 before reviewing the formal indictment charges, she said that “everyone” is innocent until proven guilty.
She added, “I make decisions in this office based on the facts and law,” Willis explained. “The law is nonpartisan. Today, this office has indicted 12,000 cases. This is the 11th RICO indictment. We look at the facts, the law, and bring charges.”
Impact of Election Interference on Democracy
The notion of election interference strikes at the very heart of our democracy. It undermines our trust in our electoral system and threatens the fundamental principles upon which our nation was built. The allegations raised in this case are not to be taken lightly, as they have far-reaching consequences for both individuals involved and society.
I believe holding individuals accountable for electoral interference is crucial in safeguarding democratic systems worldwide. By identifying and punishing those responsible for meddling in elections, we send a clear message that such acts will not be tolerated. Accountability serves as both a deterrent and a means of restoring faith in electoral processes.
Moreover, addressing election integrity concerns requires comprehensive measures that go beyond reactive responses to incidents of interference. Governments, institutions, and civil society must work together to implement robust safeguards against manipulation while promoting transparency and fairness throughout the entire electoral cycle.
In the Fulton County case, the district attorney has charged 19 individuals, including a former president of the United States with forgery and racketeering, charges which is a violation of Georgia’s RICO Act. You can read a summary or the complete indictment.
Unmasking the Defendants: Who are the 19 Individual Facing Charges?
Figure 2: Defendants in the Fulton County Election Case. Source of photo: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Who is Fani Taifa Willis?
Source of photo: New York Times
Fani Taifa Willis, born in 1971, is the district attorney of Fulton County, Georgia, which contains most of Atlanta. She is the first woman to hold the office. She studied political science at Howard University, graduating cum laude in 1993.
Later she moved to Atlanta to attend Emory University School of Law, graduating in 1996 with a Juris Doctor. She spent 16 years as a prosecutor in the Fulton County district attorney’s office. She was the lead prosecutor of the Atlanta cheating scandal in 2014-2015.
In 2018 she opened her own law office, The Offices of Fani T. Willis, LLC which focused on Criminal Defense and Family Law, particularly father’s rights. She heads a non-profit, Love for Carla, raising awareness of sickle cell anemia.
In 2020, she challenged her former boss, 20-year veteran district attorney Paul Howard Jr. She won the election and took office in January 2021.
As district attorney, Willis created a Pre-Indictment Diversion Program for citizens who have made felony mistakes the chance to avoid indictment with “individually customized” community service and higher education.
The day after she was sworn in, former president Trump called the Georgia secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger. Trump asked Raffensperger to find 11,780 votes to overturn his loss to Joe Biden in Georgia.
For more information about Fani Willis’ character and experience click here and here.
The Fulton County Election Indictment
For the past 2 1/2 years, Willis has led the Fulton County investigation into election interference instigated and carried out by Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants.
The Fulton County indictment includes 40 charges as summarized below.
- Violation of the Georgia RICO Act
- Solicitation of violation of oath by public officer
- Conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer
- Conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree (2 counts)
- Conspiracy to commit false statements and writings (2 counts)
- Conspiracy to commit filing false documents
- Filing false documents
- Solicitation of violations of oath by public officer (2 counts)
- False statements and writings (2 counts)
The charges brought against these 19 individuals identified in Figure 2 are highlighted in a section of the Fulton County election indictment. These charges highlight the importance of safeguarding democratic elections from external influence. Their alleged actions not only undermine the integrity of the electoral system but also erode public trust in democracy itself. These men and women took it upon themselves to conspire against the citizens of Georgia to try and steal the 2020 presidential election. Don’t you think it is crucial to thoroughly investigate and hold accountable those involved in such activities?
While it is disheartening to witness attempts at undermining democracy through election interference, it is encouraging to see the Fulton County district attorney’s office taking decisive action against those responsible. By holding individuals accountable for their actions, we send a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated. And that no one is above the law.
Surrounding Donald Trump in the image in Figure 2 are 18 enablers. Not all enablers rise to the same level of culpability, however. Some had a much closer relationship with Trump, and were involved in more criminal activities than some of the others to try to keep Trump in office, and prevent Joe Biden from being sworn in as the duly elected president. According to scholar Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Trump is a demagogue–an authoritarian. She says that “authoritarians depend on disinformation, threat, and corruption. She tells us that Trump refused to attend last week’s Republican debate because demagogues don’t debate (go over to Lucid, on Substack).
Enablers
The 18 co-defendants are actually Donald Trump’s enablers. According to Ben-Ghiat, leaders such as Trump parcel out things for the enablers to do, that they likely wouldn’t do except now for being loyal to “leader.” If you check the names in Figure 2, the 18 enablers, some of them are closer to the inner circle of Trump’s criminal activity. For example, we finally see Mark Meadows, Trump’s chief of staff who was involved in all activities leading up to January 6 and beyond. I wondered why his name had not cropped up until now. He’s petitioned the court to move the his case from the state court to a federal court. We’re waiting for the judges decision.
But there are others who fell into the trap and carried out activities to promote Trump’s big lie, to lie themselves, and carry out criminal activities. Rudi Giuliani is a prime example. Once the famous mayor of New York, now a man who is liable for defamation of two Georgia election workers, as well being indicted in the Fulton County case.
Each person in figure 2 played a role in the criminal conspiracy to try and overturn the election in Georgia.
Fighting Accountability: Fani Willis’ Determination to Uphold Democratic and Fair Elections.
In a world where democracy is constantly under threat (Strongmen by Ruth Ben-Ghiat), Fani Willis emerges as a beacon of hope, defending the pillars of justice and safeguarding our democratic processes. Through her commitment to upholding the law, she has taken bold legal action against election interference, ensuring that every voice is heard and every vote counts.
Willis does this in an environment in which she is being attacked not only by Trump and his close allies, but by the “republican establishment.” The Georgia legislature passed a contentious law (Senate Bill 92) in the last legislative session that will enable the legislature to look into the activities of “rogue” district attorneys (Gov. Brian Kemps’ word).
The bill was written to go after district attorney’s in the state, like Fani Willis of Fulton county, and Deborah Gonzalez, DA of Athens-Clark & Oconee counties. The new law sets up a statewide Prosecuting Attorneys Statewide Qualifications Commission with the power to investigate complaints against district attorneys and remove them from office. Willis’ pursuit of justice in the face of election interference is nothing short of remarkable. Gov. Brian Kemp rejected these efforts by other Republicans saying he hasn’t “seen any evidence” that Willis has violated her oath of office.
By taking legal action against election interference, Fani Willis sends a powerful message: that no one is above the law and that our democratic processes must be protected at all costs. Her efforts serve as a reminder that justice should prevail over political agendas and personal interests.
Threats
However, she, and other prosecutors on the case, office staff, and grand jurors have received racist and death threats. Donald Trump has called her a racist. He’s called judges and other prosecuting attorneys racist, as well.
In times when trust in institutions can waver, Fani Willis provides reassurance through her commitment to transparency and accountability. By seeking legal remedies for election interference, she helps restore faith in our democratic system by ensuring that integrity prevails over manipulation.
As we navigate these challenging times where threats to democracy loom large, Fani Willis stands strong as an advocate for truth and fairness. Through her legal actions against election interference, she leaves an indelible mark on history – one that reinforces the importance of defending democracy through unwavering determination and principled action.
In conclusion, Fani Willis’ pursuit of justice through legal action against election interference serves as a vital defense mechanism for our democracy. Her resolute commitment to upholding the law and safeguarding our electoral processes is a testament to her unwavering dedication and the importance of preserving the integrity of our democratic system.
Implications of this Landmark Case on Future Election Integrity
The impact of election interference cases goes beyond individual elections; it strikes at the heart of democracy itself. When foreign entities (Russian election interference) or domestic actors (January 6) engage in deceptive practices to influence electoral outcomes, they undermine the trust that citizens have in their democratic institutions. The Fulton County case highlights a profound erosion of trust can lead to a loss of confidence in the electoral process, sowing seeds of doubt and division among voters. Many citizens of Georgia, many of whom are Republican, do not accept that the general election was fair and just. They believe the lies that Trump and his enablers have promoted. Disinformation permeates the media, and the day-to-day lives of many people.
Trump and his allies need to be held accountable in court of law. Not to do so will harm American citizens.
Finally I would add to this conversation that Willis and the prosecuting team in Fulton County are investigation the election interference of the 2020 election. Now, Trump and his allies have the audacity to claim that the Fulton County investigation is simply “election interference—aimed at derailing Trump’s 2024 reelection bid.
0 Comments