Fani Willis, the Georgia prosecutor who prosecuted the election case against Donald Trump, was re-elected

ATLANTA (AP) — Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, the Georgia prosecutor who filed the case Accusations against former President Donald Trump He won his re-election bid for his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Democrat Willis defeats Republicans rival Courtney Kramerwho interned in the White House counsel’s office during the Trump presidency and was active in GOP organizations. Fulton County, home to 11% of the state’s electorate and encompassing most of the city of Atlanta, is a Democratic stronghold.

Willis took office in January 2021 defeat its predecessor — and former boss — longtime District Attorney Paul Howard bitter Democratic primary struggle He had no Republican opponent in the November general election that year.

He hit the headlines just a month after taking office Announced February 2021 He said he was investigating whether Trump and others broke any laws in trying to hand over his narrow loss in the state to Democrat Joe Biden. Two and a half years later, after an investigation that involved calling dozens of witnesses special grand juryIn August 2023, he obtained a sweeping racketeering indictment against Trump and 18 others.

four people they pleaded guilty after reaching an agreement with prosecutors. Trump and the remaining individuals have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

This case is largely pending Trump and other defendants appealed A. judge’s decision Allowing Willis to continue trying the case. They claim that: romantic relationship Willis had a friend special prosecutor He hired him to run the prosecutor’s office. created a conflict of interest. Court of Appeals of Georgia plans to listen to arguments On December 5th.

The election interference investigation made Willis a target of Republican attacks and investigations. Trump has repeatedly spoken out against her publicly and on social media. And state and federal lawmakers Investigations opened It’s about how he runs his office.

Willis also used: state anti-racketeering law prosecuting alleged gang activity, including a high-profile individual Lawsuit against rapper Young Thug. This case was bogged down by issues that dragged on for almost two years. jury selection it took almost 10 months And opening remarks It was a year ago this month. Young Thug and three other defendants pleaded guilty to the charges against them last week, but the trial of two defendants continues.

Although Willis is a Democrat, he doesn’t fit into the crop of progressive prosecutors elected in jurisdictions across the country in recent years. Some critics on the left believe he has been overzealous in using the state’s anti-racketeering and anti-gang laws to unnecessarily complicate cases to increase the penalties attached to those laws.

Progressive attorney Christian Wise Smith challenged Willis. Democratic primary There is an election in May, but that’s I beat him easily. Kramer ran unopposed in the Republican primary.

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