ATLANTA — A group of faith leaders gathered in Atlanta on Monday morning to endorse Fani Willis for reelection in the race for Fulton County district attorney.
Georgia's local and state race primaries are already in early voting, and Election Day is May 21. DA Willis faces a challenger in the Democratic primary in Christian Wise Smith, a former Atlanta solicitor and prosecutor in the Fulton County District Attorney's Office.
The winner of that race will face election law attorney and 2020 Trump campaign operative Courtney Kramer in the November election, as Kramer is running unopposed on the Republican ballot.
RELATED: Trump case impact felt in Fulton County as DA Willis, Judge McAfee face election challengers
At a news conference Monday morning across from Big Bethel AME Church on Auburn Avenue, the group of faith leaders signaled their support for Willis -- who has brought headline-making prosecutions against figures including former President Donald Trump and rapper Young Thug -- to remain on the job.
The group includes Georgia AME Bishop Reginald Jackson, Rev. Timothy McDonald, Dr. John Foster, Dr. Cynthia Hale, Dr. Jamal Bryant, Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner, Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley, Rev. Shanan Jones, Rev. Andre Osborne and others.
You can re-watch the full press conference in the video below:
“Fani Willis has proven herself to be an effective, fearless, and courageous District Attorney determined to defend and prioritize the pursuit of justice throughout Fulton County,” Bishop Jackson said in a statement. “I am proud to call her my friend and look forward to bringing the multi-denominations of Georgia’s African-American Faith community together to showcase her leadership, passion, and results for Fulton County.”
Willis has navigated in recent weeks the challenge to her staying on the Trump case over her relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade and the allegations that it constituted an improper benefit. Judge Scott McAfee determined she could remain on the case, but Wade had to resign as part of the ruling.
She has also been the subject of a Georgia Senate special committee's investigation that she has called politicized and racially biased. Willis appeared at a community event Friday morning ahead of the hearing criticizing the investigation.
“Isn’t it interesting when we’ve got a bunch of African American DAs, now we need daddy to tell us what to do,” Willis said.
The Senate committee lacks the power to sanction Willis, but the senators can subpoena evidence and witnesses that have included Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts and attorney Ashleigh Merchant, who originally brought the motion to disqualify Willis over the relationship with Wade. They also have the rare power to require that testimony be given under oath.
The committee could produce a report at the end of its investigation that features proposed changes to state law or budgeting to the DA's Office.
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