Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has found herself in a load of trouble after she was accused of hiring a romantic partner in her election interference case against former president Donald Trump. Glenn and Stu discuss the latest updates as Willis refuses to comment about the lawyer she hired — and massively overpaid. But she has also reportedly threatened legal action against the lawyer's wife, who has accused her of having an affair. Maybe she should make the charge and not just threaten it, Glenn says. Either way, this is one mess that's probably worth keeping an eye on.
Transcript
Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors
GLENN: So let's talk a little bit about Fani Willis, the woman who is leading the prosecution against Donald Trump in Georgia.
STU: Yeah. Her situation is getting a little complicated. You know, when you have -- is it Facebook that used to have the thing with your relationship status. It's complicated. That's kind of where it is with Fani. She, of course, is going after Trump on 947 zillion charges.
And her approach has been sort of hit pretty hard by the legal community, saying that she's overreaching here. But it also seems like the type of thing that they could get Donald Trump on. Because you're going to a jury, that will not be friendly.
And they are trying to blow this into the biggest case of all time. Widely expansive.
So the -- the -- everybody knows that part, I guess. When you get to this part. Where you get Fani Willis, who hires someone.
And there's a friendship there, I guess. Is the way she's trying to describe it. Now, look, friends. Friends with benefits, the charges, I guess.
GLENN: Very strong benefits.
STU: Very strong benefits.
GLENN: Benefits that she's just screaming, benefits, at the top of her lungs, and her neighbors can hear.
STU: Right. At least that's the alleged. Allegedly.
GLENN: Allegedly. Allegedly. Yes. They're probably just friends. Platonic.
STU: Right.
And so this kind of comes out -- a bunch of it comes out in different ways. One part of it comes out in a divorce proceeding. The guy she's supposedly having an affair with. She's accused of having this affair, in the divorce proceeding.
At the same time, people notice, hey, he was hired by Fani Willis, and paid over $600,000 in fees, to work this case. Even though --
GLENN: Isn't it like all the other experts in his role are being paid like a third of that.
He's being way overpaid.
STU: The example. Yeah. The example I know. Her first reaction was. I pay all of them equally.
Then it came out, he was making $250 an hour.
The guy who actually wrote the statute.
That they're using to go after Trump, is getting paid $150 an hour.
Which, I mean, it seems like he might be the real expert here.
So this is sort of dissolved now.
And it's interesting to see her reaction to it.
Because she immediately jumped to, I am going to a black church, to give a speech about racism against black women, who you can't call -- you can't say shouldn't be perfect.
Black woman shouldn't be perfect. You can't hold them to this high standard. You can't call them perfect.
No one is asking you to be perfect.
We're just asking to you follow the law.
GLENN: You're having an affair. You're having an affair.
Okay. Fine. Okay. You know, I don't recommend it. Not a great idea.
But it's not against the law. Hiring this guy. And putting him on payroll. Paying him more than the other experts. Putting him on payroll, and not going through the proper channels to make sure he's vetted for that job, that is a problem.
STU: Yeah.
GLENN: That's a problem.
STU: And what we've told you is what's being reported.
It's interesting -- it's hard to know in some cases, what's true. You're talking about something behind bedroom doors.
This stuff will come out overtime. What's been fascinating. Her reaction has been so bizarre and defensive, immediately. It's as if she knew these charges would be coming.
She had prepared a defense. She was ready to roll out the PR response to it.
And honestly, she's as bad at that, as she is at investigating cases.
This is going to be a catastrophe. And it makes you almost optimistic for Donald Trump's future.
GLENN: So, Stu, if I say, you are obstructing and interfering with an ongoing criminal prosecution.
If I tell you that, does that bother you?
STU: Well, I mean, I would certainly hope I was -- it wouldn't bother me legally. I would be very bothered by it, sure.
GLENN: And you would be like, I have to check out what I'm doing.
STU: Yeah. Sure.
GLENN: But if the attorney general or the district attorney came in and said, Stu, you are obstructing or interfering with an ongoing prosecution.
Would that bother you.
STU: Yes. Very much so.
GLENN: Why?
STU: Well, I would be worried I would be breaking the law. That I was going to be thrown in prison. That I would be charged with something?
GLENN: Yes. Because the person saying it to you, is the person who can charge you with it.
STU: Right. They have the power.
GLENN: So it's a threat. It's either informative. Stop doing it. Or a threat.
She just came out and said, Jocelyn Wade, who is married to the guy she is allegedly sleeping with. Is using the legal process to harass and embarrass me. And in doing so, is obstructing and interfering with an ongoing criminal prosecution.
So she's saying, by her bringing this up, she is -- she is interfering with this grand prosecution, of the former president of the United States.
You know what, make that charge. Don't just say it. Make the charge. And that's what Jocelyn should say. Go ahead. Charge me with obstruction.
Do it!
Do it.
STU: Of course, she's not allowed to put what the facts are of her marriage and divorce, paperwork.
That's how she is getting in the way of this.
What's the accusation?
GLENN: She's a secret MAGA supporter.
STU: Right. Big-TIME MAGA person.
Who is like, I just have to get the president on.
Again, we get into these conspiracy theories all the time. That's how this should be treated.
Is a conspiracy theory.
The idea that this woman is putting this in here. To -- you could see a situation, where she's trying to get back at Fani Willis, because she's sleeping with her husband. Right? Certainly, you could see that type of situation playing out.
GLENN: Oh, yeah, yeah. I'm not saying she's knell, looking for the Canadian Mountie. Oh, I'm innocent. I'm tied to the tracks. I'm not saying that. She's a scorned woman. But she has a right to say these things in her divorce trial.
It makes a difference.
GLENN: In some ways, she's probably required to.
She's supposed to tell the truth.
If this is happening. And it actually did occur, as alleged.
Then, you know, she's supposed to put it in the paperwork.
If it's -- if it's, you know, important to the trial, people need to know.