Fani Willis speaks at AME planning conference, highlighting 'attacks' and criminal justice

Caption

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis on the screen at the AME planning conference in Marietta.

Credit: Sarah Kallis/GPB News

Willis’ addressed a group gathered in Marietta for the African Methodist-Episcopal Planning Conference on Thursday. Her speech centered around criminal justice and equal treatment under the law.

She also spoke about the scrutiny she faced for her romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, the former prosecutor in the Trump election interference case.

“I live the experience of a Black woman who is attacked and over-sexualized,” she said. 

However, Willis said she focuses on her work.

"What I'm here to tell you is to not concern yourself with insults of me; I promise you, I don't concern myself with them," she told the crowd. "I am too busy working 15-hour days, trying to use every talent God gave me to fulfill my God-given purpose."

Meanwhile, the case against former President Donald Trump and others is on hold until the Georgia Court of Appeals rules on Trump's request to have her removed from the case. Prosecutors in her office have asked the judge to dismiss that appeal.

Still, Willis said she is hopeful in the direction the country is headed in. 

"I need you to know that we are as as a country, truly headed in the right direction," she said. "I believe that we are not out of time to lose hope. We are headed in the right direction."

Willis is up for reelection this year. She won the Democratic primary election for the position in May.