Am I the only one deeply disappointed.....

[gimmethesimplelife]

in Fani Willis? I worry that Trump will skate on the airtight election interference charges. Thankfully he pulled the same illegal stunt in Wayne County Michigan - the problem is that the election is not that far off and the United States needed to be Trump free from day one.

Thanks alot, Fani Willis. Rob

[iris lilies]

I do not know who Fani Willis is. I could easily google that, but I’m not gonna

[gimmethesimplelife]

I do not know who Fani Willis is. I could easily google that, but I’m not gonnaFani Willis is the Fulton County, Georgia DA tasked with prosecuting DJT for his Election Crime(s) in the Peach State. She allegedly is having an affair with the attorney she selected to prosecute DJT. This attorney has billed Fulton County, Georgia over 600K - and he has taken Ms. Willis on lavish trips after having billed Fulton Country for major dollars.

Too bad Alex Trebek has passed - otherwise I could say I'll take Conflict of Interest for $500, Mr. Trebek. And a conflict of interest it indeed is. What WAS Ms. Willis thinking? We may become an Authoritarian Dictatorship next year should DJT win - couldn't Ms. Willis wait until the trial was over to associate personally with the prosecuting attorney she selected? The only upside I can see here is the potential for more Americans to flee and to freely give juicy soundbites regarding the truths of the United States - apparently this nation can not even find a non-problematic DA to prosecute DJT for his most serious crimes against the state.

I'm not entirely surprised given that I saw straight through this country many years ago - but I do find myself disappointed. Realistically, I should have known better - this is the United States we are talking about. And given the consequences of Fani Willis's lack of professionalism, I recommend as before - stock up on food, two bags packed, several plans to flee. We really do not know how far gone Trump will behave if reelected. I'd recommend preparing for the worst, and preparing for a country that those who have known some degree of security no longer recognize one iota.

Thanks alot, Ms. Willis. For making the United States that much more vulnerable to becoming an Authoritarian Dictatorship. Rob

[LDAHL]

She’s claiming the allegations are based on her race.

[gimmethesimplelife]

She’s claiming the allegations are based on her race.I heard that and I am yet more disappointed and am now feeling some disgust, too. These allegations have nothing to do with race whatsoever - they are all about horrible optics and conflict of interest. Rob

[iris lilies]

She’s claiming the allegations are based on her race.
Ah well that is something to be “deeply disappointed “by although certainly nothing new.

[jp1]

Can someone explain to me what the problem is? Is it concern that the guy she is supposedly having a relationship with isn’t competent as a lawyer? Or something else?

[ToomuchStuff]

Can someone explain to me what the problem is? Is it concern that the guy she is supposedly having a relationship with isn’t competent as a lawyer? Or something else?


Conflict of interest. Those have to be exposed before trial, and ruled on, or somebody else appointed or it provides grounds for appeal.

[jp1]

Conflict of interest. Those have to be exposed before trial, and ruled on, or somebody else appointed or it provides grounds for appeal.

Either he's too good, which would seem to be the orange goon's argument. Or he's a crappy lawyer. If he's a sucky lawyer it would seem to benefit the orange goon so he shouldn't be upset. If he's a great lawyer, which seems likely based on his work history, I don't get the whole "conflict of interest" thing. If he's that good then she picked the right person for the job and anything else like whether they are dating is irrelevant. This whole thing sounds like just another clown job from the maximus clown to distract from the fact that he's guilty as ****.

[ApatheticNoMore]

Yea, she should have appointed someone else. Our democracy at stake and these people think their literal f*cking around is more important. Just the worst people to have any power.

[bae]

What is the precise "conflict of interest" in this situation?

[jp1]

What is the precise "conflict of interest" in this situation?

Exactly. A conflict would be hiring someone not up to the task of putting trump in jail. This guy seems to be capable of doing that. This is just more silliness from the maga party.

[Rogar]

Clarence Thomas seems like a more precise example of conflict of interest.

https://www.propublica.org/article/clarence-thomas-secretly-attended-koch-brothers-donor-events-scotus

[LDAHL]

I’m reading that a hearing will be held into the allegations on 2/15.

[jp1]

Clarence Thomas seems like a more precise example of conflict of interest.

https://www.propublica.org/article/clarence-thomas-secretly-attended-koch-brothers-donor-events-scotus

Gorsuch also would appear to have a legit conflict in an upcoming case given his coziness with Anschutz. But since ethics is ‘optional’ for Supreme Court justices I don’t expect him to own it and act like an ethical person.

[ToomuchStuff]

What is the precise "conflict of interest" in this situation?


She allegedly is having an affair with the attorney she selected to prosecute DJT. This attorney has billed Fulton County, Georgia over 600K - and he has taken Ms. Willis on lavish trips after having billed Fulton Country for major dollars.

If there is or was a relationship between these two, then disclosure is typically in order before the trial, where motions for change of venue, council, etc. are typically done before trial. As they are alleging this now, if they have proof, then they have a possible point of appeal.
But I am not a court and that will be up to them to decide, now, as this could have been pretrial.

[jp1]

I’m still not understanding how them being in a relationship will harm trump at trial. Can someone please explain that to me? If anything it would seem to potentially benefit trump because maybe the guy was not the best choice of lawyer for the job.

[ToomuchStuff]

I’m still not understanding how them being in a relationship will harm trump at trial. Can someone please explain that to me? If anything it would seem to potentially benefit trump because maybe the guy was not the best choice of lawyer for the job.


Appearance of impropriety. Not necessarily actual impropriety.

There have been other cases, such as a Judge and prosecutor/defense attorney that are related, that have been causes for possible bias and appealed. (some Steve Lehto videos on youtube might be good to watch)

[gimmethesimplelife]

Appearance of impropriety. Not necessarily actual impropriety.

There have been other cases, such as a Judge and prosecutor/defense attorney that are related, that have been causes for possible bias and appealed. (some Steve Lehto videos on youtube might be
good to watch)Exactly! Appearance of impropriety is exactly the issue here. The optics are horrible and the Trump team is going to milk that for all the mileage it can get. I just hope Authoritarian Dictatorship is not the future for the United States. Rob

[iris lilies]

Yes it would be nice if corruption of major players in the Trump drama was not a factor. Not saying this is “corruption” at all but just keeping the floor clean while Trump drama plays out on it is preferred.

this, just reminds me of something, I read this morning about the satiric and hilarious British TV show “The Thick of It.” it portrayed, a minister and his minions and their ongoing sleazy dealings in staying in power.
The producer said he stopped producing it after three seasons because real life politicians were using it as a blueprint for their own success..

Funny but maybe with a bit of truth.

[befree]

I'm with the group that just doesn't get it. I, too, am sorry this is coming up, but - so she has a boyfriend? So he was married? So they went on a trip together? Is that illegal? Does that mean "oh, I caught you having an affair, so now I go free for my actual crime?" I guess it's good somebody is having a hearing on 2/15 to get this answered. I also hope the courts quickly hear and decide on Trump's claim of "I was president, so I get 100% immunity for any crime I committed". And if the courts and hearings say "okay, he gets 100% retroactive immunity" and "okay, we'll say Fanni Willis had a conflict of interest which appears improper, so we'll throw out this indictment" - then I guess we'll know we will never see justice, or even a trial, for the crimes for which Trump was indicted.

[ToomuchStuff]

"okay, we'll say Fanni Willis had a conflict of interest which appears improper, so we'll throw out this indictment" - then I guess we'll know we will never see justice, or even a trial, for the crimes for which Trump was indicted.

No, it would get sent back down, typically for retrial.

[gimmethesimplelife]

No, it would get sent back down, typically for retrial.Agreed regarding a retrial. I just worry that the Trump team will get mileage from folks on the fence regaring DJT playing the victim in a "political witch hunt" - this is why I am so down on Fani Willis suddenly. Rob

[gimmethesimplelife]

Yea, she should have appointed someone else. Our democracy at stake and these people think their literal f*cking around is more important. Just the worst people to have any power.YES!!! This is exactly where I am coming from. I'm just....can't the United States find a non-problematic prosecution team to render DJT an unfortunate asterik in bizarre American political history/a well deserved incarcerated criminal for life? I had no idea how to explain this sorry situation to my Austrian relations - though their Sebastian Kurz was quite cringeworthy too, and not so long ago. Rob

[jp1]

Appearance of impropriety. Not necessarily actual impropriety.

There have been other cases, such as a Judge and prosecutor/defense attorney that are related, that have been causes for possible bias and appealed. (some Steve Lehto videos on youtube might be good to watch)

How could the prosecutor hiring an attorney cause impropriety? If she hired a competent attorney that does a good job that isn't impropriety. If she hired an incompetent attorney that does a bad job then trump benefits. I don't see any situation where her hiring her boyfriend, if she in fact did, has any way of making the trial go worse for trump.

One could make the argument that her hiring her boyfriend, if that's indeed what she did, was improper for any number of other good governance reasons but none of those reasons would seem to have any relevance to the trump trial. The attorney was hired as part of the prosecution of trump. Nothing that Ms. Willis can do will give him an undue power to change the results of that prosecution.

[Simone]

I’m still not understanding how them being in a relationship will harm trump at trial. Can someone please explain that to me? If anything it would seem to potentially benefit trump because maybe the guy was not the best choice of lawyer for the job.

I'm more concerned it will harm the prosecution. Wade has little experience as a prosecutor and the county has already paid him about $654K, some of which, it's claimed, the couple spent on vacations together. Fani Willis seems to be saying she picked him because he'd been a "mentor" to her, and that she was facing - or believed she would face - difficulty in finding someone who would take on the job of special prosecutor.

Trump will have the best defenders he can buy in his corner. I want the best prosecutor money can buy on a case of this importance.

[Alan]

How could the prosecutor hiring an attorney cause impropriety? If she hired a competent attorney that does a good job that isn't impropriety. If she hired an incompetent attorney that does a bad job then trump benefits.
As I see it, it's basically an ethics issue. She hired her boyfriend as a contract employee to supervise a high profile case even though he had little to no experience in the types of charges she brought. She then benefited financially by receiving services from that contractor in the form of travel and entertainment, probably paid from taxpayer funds.

It's a terrible ethical conundrum which the state of Georgia must resolve but I don't see how it would impact the Grand Jury indictment against Trump other than perhaps having someone else oversee the prosecution.

[gimmethesimplelife]

As I see it, it's basically an ethics issue. She hired her boyfriend as a contract employee to supervise a high profile case even though he had little to no experience in the types of charges she brought. She then benefited financially by receiving services from that contractor in the form of travel and entertainment, probably paid from taxpayer funds.

It's a terrible ethical conundrum which the state of Georgia must resolve but I don't see how it would impact the Grand Jury indictment against Trump other than perhaps having someone else oversee the prosecution.OMG. There's going to be a foot of snow on the ground in Phoenix tomorrow! I agree with everything you have posted here, Alan. Rob

[gimmethesimplelife]

As I see it, it's basically an ethics issue. She hired her boyfriend as a contract employee to supervise a high profile case even though he had little to no experience in the types of charges she brought. She then benefited financially by receiving services from that contractor in the form of travel and entertainment, probably paid from taxpayer funds.

It's a terrible ethical conundrum which the state of Georgia must resolve but I don't see how it would impact the Grand Jury indictment against Trump other than perhaps having someone else oversee the prosecution.Just a side question.....your take is that the prosecution will continue, that Team Trump won't find a way around it due to Ms. Willis's seemingly unprofessional by far conduct? Rob

[Tradd]

This sh*t isn’t even on my radar.

[Alan]

Just a side question.....your take is that the prosecution will continue, that Team Trump won't find a way around it due to Ms. Willis's seemingly unprofessional by far conduct? Rob
I see no reason the case won't continue since grand jury indictments aren't tied to a particular prosecutor, although the tone and tenor of the prosecution effort may change a bit if a less politically motivated prosecutor takes over. But, in that case you must keep in mind that you were never likely to get the outcome you wanted in this case, even if this ethics thing hadn't come up, and whatever disappointment many will feel has nothing to do with the defendants in the case, it will be the result of a blind eyed justice refusing to politicize a case in search of fame and fortune.

[mschrisgo2]

Oh for crying out loud! They are not “having an affair” - two consenting, Single adults. Their interpersonal relationship is actually not anyone else’s business!! Who would Fani Willis be expected to date? She is, by all accounts, a very competent prosecutor, with a great reputation. It is not hard to see that these attorneys are her peer group- a group from which she might select a person to date.

There are literally dozens of attorneys and support people on the People of the US team. The dollar amount that has been thrown around is the Total Amount spent so far- not to pay just 1 person. And however he chooses to spend his hard-earned dollars is his business and no one else’s!

Trump and company assume there are improprieties because that’s how they work, and they assume everyone is as corrupt as they are.

It is somewhat frightening to see that so many people believe every thing they hear in the media, without applying any common sense to it.

I have gotten the bulk of my information from the Meidas Touch Network on YouTube. Check it out for yourself if you think what I have reported here is erroneous, far fetched, etc.

[ToomuchStuff]

Oh for crying out loud! They are not “having an affair” - two consenting, Single adults. Their interpersonal relationship is actually not anyone else’s business!!

The evidence of them traveling together was brought to the attention of the court, in the divorce proceedings of the prosecutting attorney.
Until the divorce is done, define single.

[Alan]

Oh for crying out loud! They are not “having an affair” - two consenting, Single adults.
He was, and still remains married. The divorce is still working its way through the court.


There are literally dozens of attorneys and support people on the People of the US team. The dollar amount that has been thrown around is the Total Amount spent so far- not to pay just 1 person. And however he chooses to spend his hard-earned dollars is his business and no one else’s!
I believe there are 3 contract attorneys working on the Trump case and she is allegedly dating one of them. According to the Georgia state Auditor's office the vast majority of money paid to those contract attorneys went to her alleged boyfriend, I think about $650,000. I believe another has been paid just over $100,000 and the third something less than that.


Trump and company assume there are improprieties because that’s how they work, and they assume everyone is as corrupt as they are.
I think lots of people well outside "Trump and Company" assume the same.


It is somewhat frightening to see that so many people believe every thing they hear in the media, without applying any common sense to it.
Yes, it is.

[gimmethesimplelife]

Oh for crying out loud! They are not “having an affair” - two consenting, Single adults. Their interpersonal relationship is actually not anyone else’s business!! Who would Fani Willis be expected to date? She is, by all accounts, a very competent prosecutor, with a great reputation. It is not hard to see that these attorneys are her peer group- a group from which she might select a person to date.

There are literally dozens of attorneys and support people on the People of the US team. The dollar amount that has been thrown around is the Total Amount spent so far- not to pay just 1 person. And however he chooses to spend his hard-earned dollars is his business and no one else’s!

Trump and company assume there are improprieties because that’s how they work, and they assume everyone is as corrupt as they are.

It is somewhat frightening to see that so many people believe every thing they hear in the media, without applying any common sense to it.

I have gotten the bulk of my information from the Meidas Touch Network on YouTube. Check it out for yourself if you think what I have reported here is erroneous, far fetched, etc.If you have followed prior posts of mine, it is not hard to determine that I am very very very much Anti Trump. I would love nothing more than to have Fani Willis successfully incarcerate Donald Trump and have DJT remain behind bars for the rest of his life.

That said, anti Trump as I am, I can see issues with Conflict of Interest here beyond any media take on such. I also find it inappropriate that Attorney Wade has taken Ms. Willis on lavish getaways AFTER being payed via Fulton County Georgia taxpayer money. Not only am I disappointed but I am afraid that the Trump Team will use this to skate the charges, thereby leaving the United States vulnerable to becoming an Authoritarian Dictatorship. This all goes way way way beyond how the media is representing it to me - I see potential horrific long term consequences and Ms. Willis may very well have helped to usher such in. Not good. Rob

[LDAHL]

I have gotten the bulk of my information from the Meidas Touch Network on YouTube. Check it out for yourself if you think what I have reported here is erroneous, far fetched, etc.

Put not your faith in obscure YouTube channels that punctuate every headline with multiple exclamation points.

[iris lilies]

Oh for crying out loud! They are not “having an affair” - two consenting, Single adults. Their interpersonal relationship is actually not anyone else’s business!! Who would Fani Willis be expected to date? She is, by all accounts, a very competent prosecutor, with a great reputation. It is not hard to see that these attorneys are her peer group- a group from which she might select a person to date….

The editorial board of the Washington Post disagrees with you that Fani’s boyfriend grift is no big deal.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/01/22/fani-willis-gift-trump/

[mschrisgo2]

The evidence of them traveling together was brought to the attention of the court, in the divorce proceedings of the prosecutting attorney.
Until the divorce is done, define single.


Ah, thank you TooMuchStuff! This comment lead me to look up Georgia divorce, etc. I see Georgia is Not a “no fault” divorce state- which explains how and why all of this is “everyone’s” business. It also explains why he is still technically “married”.
(I am happy to live in a state that adopted no fault divorce many years ago)

what a mess!