SAY IT AIN'T SO, FANI! — The Weekly Opine

Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis, pictured with Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade, has some ‘splaining to do. (Photo credit 11 Alive dot com)

Small timer?

My favorite Humphrey Bogart movie is “High Sierra,” during which Bogart delivers a Hall-of-Fame line. Upon watching two inexperienced hoodlum associates literally crash and burn, following a jewel heist, Bogart says matter-of-factly, “Small timers for small jobs. This one was just too big.”

Recent documents filed by Trump RICO case co-defendant Michael Roman are mind-boggling. It is alleged (without supporting evidence) that Fulton Co. District Attorney Fani Willis is involved in a romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor Willis appointed to lead her racketeering case against Trump. While technically not illegal the improper relationship, if true, is a classic case of terrible optics and sophomorically poor judgment.

Last Sunday at church, Willis took to the pulpit to admit she’s “as flawed as they come.” Willis also said she and Wade are “great friends” while avoiding the specific accusations, regarding a possible romantic relationship with her special prosecutor. Willis bypassing the romance controversy is noteworthy, as is her choice to play the dreaded race card. Willis hired three special prosecutors for the Trump RICO case, two White and Black man Wade. She pointed out that only the Black man is under scrutiny. (Nice try, Fani, but your predicament has nothing to do with race.)

Appointed as Willis’ special prosecutor in the fall of 2021, Wade has received $654,000 for his work. According to reporting by CNN, Wade once billed Willis’ office for a 24-hour workday which, let’s face it, sounds crazy. Who works 24 hours in a 24-hour day?

Local prosecutors and defense lawyers in Georgia say it was a head-scratcher when Willis announced Wade would lead the Trump RICO case. Previously, Wade’s former private practice handled commonplace cases involving personal injury and family law. But nothing close to the scale of the RICO case against Trump and his allies. Setting aside the unproven romantic relationship claims against her, Willis hiring her inexperienced, “great friend” Wade demonstrates an acute lack of situational awareness.

The controversy started when Joycelyn Wade took her ex-husband of 26 years to court, saying she is suffering financial hardship while he is raking in cash, e.g., driving a $100,000 car. Meanwhile, the documents filed by Roman’s attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, allege that Nathan Wade and Willis are living the high life, e.g., vacationing together in Napa Valley and the Caribbean. (In what could signal a smear campaign against Willis, Roman and Merchant have not provided proof to support their salacious claims that Willis defrauded the public.)

Legal scholars generally agree that, if the allegations prove true, it should not derail Fulton County’s prosecution of Trump and his co-defendants. I concur. None of Willis’ alleged small-time behavior changes the facts of the indictment. For example, Trump’s illegal call pressuring Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find 11,780 votes” did happen. It’s on audio tape. We’ve all heard it.

However, if the alleged behavior is confirmed then Fani Willis, who redefined the meaning of imminent when she took seven months to make good on her announcement that “charging decisions are imminent,” should step aside. Hand the case to an assistant prosecutor not tainted by the odor of messy behavior.

Let’s not forget Trump hired his unqualified daughter and son-in-law for senior positions in his administration. And they profited handsomely. (Photos credit Shutterstock, ABC 7 New York)

Family plan

However, before Chumps for Trump, a.k.a., MAGAs, salivate all over themselves, it should be noted there is precedent for prominent figures hiring unqualified family and friends. Look no further than Trump and his administration, filled to the brim with incompetent Bozos.

Trump brought on his daughter Ivanka with little, if any, relevant experience, as advisor to the president focusing on education and the economy. Trump also brought on his son-in-law Jared Kushner, also with little, if any, relevant experience, as a special advisor. Both Ivanka and Kushner used personal and private email servers (like Hillary Clinton did) to conduct business and, according to the American Oversight watchdog group, abused the use of military transport.

Eventually, Kushner, who made multiple trips to Saudi Arabia despite not being an official ambassador, secured a $2 billion investment from the Saudis’ sovereign wealth fund for his newly formed private equity firm. Now that is slim shady.

As the saying goes, it takes one to know one. Anyone who sat quietly when Trump used nepotism to help enrich his daughter and son-in-law, but now complains about Fani Willis, needs to pipe down.

With or without the presence of D.A. Willis, prison looms over Trump, considering his 91 felony counts.