ATLANTA — Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis addressed the congregation at the historic Big Bethel AME Church off Auburn Avenue with a message that highlighted her challenges and triumphs while being the county's first female district attorney.
Willis addressed the appointment of Nathan Wade as a special prosecutor on the election interference case involving former President Donald Trump.
“I appointed three special counsels is as my right to do but they only attacked one," Willis said.
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Willis explained much of the scrutiny she’s faced after Wade’s appointment is unfair and racially motivated.
“They only questioned one. Isn’t it them playing the race card when they constantly think I need someone from some other jurisdiction to tell me how to do a job I’ve been doing for 30 years," Willis said.
She also expressed hurt as many of her harshest critics are women.
“I never want to be a Marjorie Taylor Greene who has never met me but has allowed her spirit to be filled with hate," Willis said.
Just last week, one of the codefendants in the high-profile election meddling case alleged that Willis and Wade have a secret, inappropriate relationship.
Willis didn’t address that directly but did say that she respects and admires all of her special prosecutors, including Wade.
“I hired one white man, brilliant and my friend and a great lawyer," she said. "I hired one Black man, another great friend. Another superstar and a great lawyer."
Today’s remarks during the MLK service mark the first time that Willis has spoken out on the allegations since they came to light.