Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis faced criticism from her Democratic primary opponent, Christian Wise Smith, after she skipped a local Democratic debate to attend the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington, D.C. Wise Smith challenged Willis to a debate rematch and criticized her for hiring a romantic partner for the prosecution of former President Donald Trump in Georgia. Despite not attending the debate, Willis has a strong lead in local polling ahead of the Democratic primary on May 28. Social media posts from an independent photojournalist and Black-focused news outlet showed photos of Willis attending the media event in D.C. over the weekend, while local media initially cited her participation in a “Self Care Fair” for Crime Victims’ Rights Week as her reason for skipping the debate.
Wise Smith’s campaign lambasted Willis for missing the debate and accused her of prioritizing hobnobbing with political elites over engaging with voters in Fulton County. The campaign argued that the Trump case has taken up significant time and resources in Willis’ office, leaving everyday Georgians to navigate a criminal justice system that lacks focus on victims and perpetuates mass incarceration. A judge recently ordered Willis to remove herself from the Trump case or fire the special counsel she had hired, Nathan Wade, after allegations of an “improper” relationship between them surfaced. Despite the controversy surrounding the Trump case, Willis remains ahead in local polling against Wise Smith ahead of the Democratic primary.
Wise Smith took the debate stage alone on Sunday and criticized Willis for hiring her romantic partner for the Trump case, stating that this decision left Fulton County vulnerable and took away resources from other important issues facing the community. While Wise Smith did not take issue with Willis prosecuting Trump or the case itself, he emphasized the need for her to approach it differently and address the real concerns keeping voters awake at night. Wise Smith, a former Atlanta city solicitor and Fulton County prosecutor, has described himself as a “prosecutor with heart” and is challenging Willis in the upcoming Democratic primary on May 28.
Willis, the Georgia district attorney who brought forth the election interference case against Trump and 18 co-defendants, has faced scrutiny for her handling of the case and her relationship with Nathan Wade. A judge ordered Willis to remove herself from the case or fire Wade, who ultimately resigned. Despite these challenges, Willis remains confident in her lead in local polling over Wise Smith. The campaign dynamics between the two candidates highlight the ongoing debate over prosecutorial priorities and the balance between high-profile cases and addressing the pressing issues facing communities like Fulton County. The upcoming Democratic primary will determine who will lead the prosecution efforts in Fulton County moving forward.
