Help keep Salon independent

“You’re confused”: Fani Willis reminds lawyers that she’s not on trial to defend her personal life

"These people are on trial for trying to steal an election in 2020. I'm not on trial," Willis said at the hearing

Senior Culture Editor

Published

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis testifies during a hearing in the case of the State of Georgia v. Donald John Trump at the Fulton County Courthouse on February 15, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Alyssa Pointer-Pool/Getty Images)
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis testifies during a hearing in the case of the State of Georgia v. Donald John Trump at the Fulton County Courthouse on February 15, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Alyssa Pointer-Pool/Getty Images)

Delivering pointed and deliberate testimony during a hearing to determine whether or not she had a personal relationship with a lead prosecutor in the criminal case against former President Donald Trump, potentially resulting in a conflict of interest that could interfere with the case, Fulton County, Ga., District Attorney Fani Willis reminded lawyers that she's not the one on trial here, Trump is.

Speaking to essentially defend her own honor, Willis fired back on the stand saying, "You've been intrusive into people's personal lives. You're confused. You think I'm on trial. These people are on trial for trying to steal an election in 2020. I'm not on trial, no matter how hard you try to put me on trial . . . I object to you getting any personal records of mine."

After waiting for the court to produce three filings against her, Willis used them as props to point out examples of the lies being lobbed her way in the hearing. 

“It’s highly offensive when someone lies on you," Willis furthered

Willis maintains that her relationship with the prosecutor in question, Nathan Wade, began after she brought him on to lead the Trump prosecution, and that it's a non-issue. 

 

By Kelly McClure

Kelly McClure is Salon's Senior Culture Editor, where she helps further coverage of TV, film, music, books and culture trends from a unique and thoughtful angle. Her work has also appeared in Vulture, Vanity Fair, Vice and many other outlets that don't start with the letter V. She is the author of one sad book called "Something Is Always Happening Somewhere." Follow her on Bluesky: @WolfieVibes

MORE FROM Kelly McClure

Related Topics ------------------------------------------

Related Articles