OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Embattled Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis will face at least two challengers during her reelection bid in the fall after another Democrat filed to run on Friday.
Previously, Courtney Kramer, a former Trump administration lawyer who describes herself as a “MAGA attorney” on her Instagram page, filed last week as well. Now, Willis will also face Christian Wise Smith, a Democrat who has also served as an Atlanta city solicitor and as a Fulton County prosecutor, who filed paperwork at the Georgia state capital on Friday, CBS News reported.
Party primaries are scheduled for May 21, with the general election on Nov. 5.
In a statement to the outlet, Wise Smith said he had yet to decide formally if he will challenge Willis, but noted that the filing of paperwork was a required first step.
“Running for public office is not a decision I take lightly,” Wise Smith said. “I am heavily considering the options as I aim to reach a final determination on my candidacy — ultimately, I only want what is best for the citizens of Fulton County. Should I decide to launch my campaign officially, my team is prepared to take all the necessary steps.”
CBS News added:
Wise Smith, a writer and the founder and president of the National Social Justice Alliance, ran against Willis in 2020 and campaigned on reforming the local criminal justice system. He lost the primary to Willis and former District Attorney Paul Howard, who both advanced to a runoff, and later endorsed Howard.
Willis filed her qualifying paperwork this week to seek reelection.
Kramer also made a statement regarding her candidacy.
“As a lawyer myself, it’s disgusting to see her not follow her rules of professional conduct or take her oath of office seriously,” Kramer, who previously interned at the Office of White House Counsel during the Trump administration, told Real America’s Voice on Monday. “It’s a disgrace to the legal community.”
Willis faces criticism over her connection with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, whom she enlisted to assist in prosecuting former President Donald Trump and his associates in her election interference case. While the couple has claimed under oath that their relationship commenced after Wade’s appointment, some witnesses refute that and say it began long before she filed her charges and hired him. Also, co-defendants in the RICO case contend that it constitutes a conflict of interest, prompting calls for Willis’s office to be disqualified from the prosecution.
Big Fani Willis is no longer running unopposed for Fulton County DA. On the brink of disqualification and disbarment Big Fani will face Attorney Courtney Kramer @supreme_court1 for Fulton DA! Go Courtney!
h/t @PhilHollowayEsq pic.twitter.com/q40qYqPi3p— @amuse (@amuse) March 8, 2024
Kramer has previously suggested that if it’s found that Willis lied on disclosure forms, the alleged misconduct could escalate beyond an ethics violation. Speaking to The Daily Caller in January, she said there’s a “potential for criminal liability.”
Last week, former Fox News host Megyn Kelly, an attorney herself, said she believes that Willis perjured herself when she testified about her relationship with Wade.
Kelly also spoke about Willis’ testimony and possible penalties if she is found to have committed perjury.
“We’ve gotten our hands on the texts [between Ashleigh Merchant and Terrence Bradley], the admissions by Nathan Wade’s friend and former lawyer that they did not want you to see…This morning, we’ll dissect the mind-blowing hearing in Fulton County that took place Tuesday afternoon and bring you exclusive information about this case. As I told you yesterday, that hearing could blow up one of the four criminal cases against former President Trump,” Kelly began.
“At the heart of it all: A man named Terrence Bradley. He’s the one-time law partner, divorce attorney, and friend of special prosecutor Nathan Wade. He did not want to be there yesterday. And he made that abundantly clear… As he obfuscated… and did a whole lot of… not recalling things… It was downright uncomfortable. I believe he lied repeatedly. That’s my opinion about his faulty memory,” Kelly added.
“Texts that prove Terrance Bradley told attorney Merchant… counsel for the defendant Michael Roman… that Fani Willis and Nathan Wade’s affair began prior to Willis hiring him to prosecute Trump…. something both Willis and Wade denied under oath. Nathan Wade was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money by Ms. Willis… as he wined and dined her… and took her on lavish vacations around the world. But when Mr. Bradley took the stand… under oath… he seemingly forgot it all!… The man might want to check with the doctor because he’s clearly having some early onset dementia,” she added.
