I will not testify before an “illegal” Senate committee

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Fulton County Prosecutor Fani Willis won key support Monday from members of Atlanta’s black religious community, while remaining defiant amid uncertainty over her case targeting Former President Donald Trump and his allies. electoral interference.

Willis was surrounded by local church leaders on the steps of Big Bethel AME Church in the city’s Sweet Auburn neighborhood. Not far from the site where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached and is now buried, they said Willis would need help from the black community — particularly black men — to win re-election against a Democratic challenger in the next primary on May 21.

“Voting remains the best weapon we have,” said the Rev. Timothy McDonald of First Iconium Baptist Church.. “We stand with Fani Willis because we serve the God of the people.”

“The Democratic Party owes a debt of gratitude to the Black women who have carried water and contributed to the party over the past four presidential cycles,” said Dr. Jamal Bryant, senior pastor of New Missionary Baptist Church Birth. “So we understand that the role and responsibility in this election is for black men to take over. If black men mobilize, it won’t even be a debate, it won’t even be a question, there won’t even be a dispute.”

Religious leaders said Willis was a strong advocate for fighting crime in Atlanta and working to protect its citizens’ rights to vote. They noted an overall 25% drop in crime during his tenure, including a 21% drop in homicides since Willis took office.

But Willis has also attracted international attention for her case against Trump, and on Monday she said the trial schedule was not up to her.

“If we file an indictment, we plan to pursue it,” Willis said. “It will be the judge’s job to set the case up for trial.” What I can guarantee you is that we are not running away from any challenge.

There is a certain urgency in this matter. Although his allies could face trial at any time, if Donald Trump is re-elected to the White House in November, he would likely be untouchable in state court. Sitting US presidents enjoy a high level of immunity from prosecution and the case against him could remain pending for four years if he defeats President Joe Biden.

Willis seemed to care little about that prospect Monday, noting that anyone who breaks the law in Fulton County while she is prosecutor will be charged.

“I don’t care how rich you are, how powerful you think you are, who your father is, what your political party might be, how much money you think you have, and how evil your supporters are. I don’t care how many times they threaten me. I will happily leave this place knowing that I have done God’s work,” she said.

Big Bethel AME Church has been a big stage for Willis lately. Earlier this year, when it was discovered that she was romantically involved with a special prosecutor in the election indictment, she gave a speech at church that garnered national attention for his suggestion that the attacks were racially motivated.

On Monday, she also objected to an ongoing state-level investigation into her handling of the election indictment. Leaders of the state Senate Select Committee on Investigations told reporters Friday that if Willis did not voluntarily testify before the committee about the indictment and how federal, state and local funds were been used to prosecute him, they would subpoena him.

“First of all, I don’t even think they have the authority to subpoena me, but they need to learn the law,” she said. “I will not appear to do anything illegal and I have not broken the law in any way.”

“I’m sorry that people are upset that everyone is treated equally,” Willis added.

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