In her sometimes bizarre and often combative testimony, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis explained, “I just think men and women think differently.” At least when it comes to Pete Skandalakis, she is demonstrably correct. Serving as Willis’s replacement after her removal from the Trump case for personal misconduct in hiring her former lover as lead prosecutor, Skandalakis found the case against Trump and his associates worthy of dismissal. In so doing, he suggested (as did many of us) that the entire foundation for the case was flawed from the outset.
Some of us have been loud critics of the racketeering case brought by Willis from the outset, calling it legally and factually absurd. The loosely constructed theory placed Trump at the center of an enterprise with 18 other individuals who had little to do with each other as a group, let alone in a conspiracy.
The case was always an example of raw, open lawfare, but Willis was widely heralded by politicians and pundits for her efforts. Even when she was found to have hired her former lover, Nathan Wade, and botched the prosecution, she was lionized by the left.
The grand jury report was a mess. The case began as a virtual circus with a grand jury report that was a mess and a self-proclaimed witch as foreperson. Emily Kohrs proceeded to give spellbinding, giggling interviews touting the merits of the case.
Skandalakis shredded the case against Trump and the other defendants, noting that it was premised on biased assumptions about individuals’ motivations. For example, he criticized Willis for charging former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) and others over their statements to the Georgia Legislature. He observed that such charges “would have a chilling effect on witnesses,” and raised “serious constitutional questions” concerning free speech.
Likewise, he expressly criticized the charging of former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows over a call Trump had with Georgia election officials asking them to “find 11,780 votes.” As many of us have written, Skandalakis noted that “reasonable minds could differ as to how to interpret the call.” That call was the focus of much of the media and political support for the prosecution.
Much of the media responded to the news with a shrug and moved on after years of fawning over Willis and running misleading stories on the legal merits. Pundits who appeared nightly to support the prosecution as manifestly well-founded were nowhere to be found.
Former prosecutor Joyce Vance said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that the prosecution “looks like a slam dunk.” Others, like former acting U.S. Solicitor General Neal Katyal, praised Willis’s efforts. Laurence Tribe, who supported a litany of ridiculous charges against Trump, including attempted murder, heralded the prosecution as based on incontrovertible evidence.
The media that ignored any opposing views has moved on with the same experts to the new narrative of the death of democracy.
With the long-overdue collapse of the Georgia case, three of the four criminal prosecutions are now dead. Trump was convicted in his New York hush money case, but was sentenced to no jail time. That case is still in the courts, and could also be overturned entirely.
Willis spent millions on this effort, wasted her office’s personnel, and cost the courts copious time and effort. Yet, even with the disclosures of her misconduct and the poor handling of the case, she was reelected. She knew the mob and the media. It did not matter if she lost or spent a fortune. The pursuit of Trump remains a self-authenticating credential on the left.
Of course, there remains the status of Sidney Powell, Jenna Ellis, Kenneth Chesebro, and Scott Hall, all of whom decided to cut deals to lesser charges. The deals allowed them to avoid additional costs and time without losing their licenses or incurring jail time. Such deals are not necessarily overturned by later decisions to drop a case. Indeed, they generally come with an agreement to waive appeals.
In her testimony, Willis was often unglued and unprofessional. Yet that, too, was largely ignored by a fawning media. She waved around papers, yelling “Lies! Lies! Lies!” as the left complimented her for her defiance. At one point, she insisted that opposing counsel’s “interests are contrary to democracy, your honor, not to mine.”
The conclusion of this case only reaffirms that it was her interests alone that drove this prosecution from supporting her former lover with a huge salary to advance her political career. The people of Fulton County paid that bill and then reelected her.
Even Emily Kohrs got her fifteen minutes of fame and was bewitched by the process, which she described as “really cool. . . . I got 60 seconds of eye contact with everyone who came in the room. You can tell a lot about people in that 60 seconds.” She expressed how “insanely excited” she was for the chance to play a role in the indictments. At the end of the case, only the insanity remained.
Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro professor of public interest law at George Washington University and the author of the best-selling book “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.”
This column ran on Fox.com
Off Topic::
I am not an expert nor college educated but at 75 I have had some opportunity to observe society and how different groups engage. I have noticed that the obnoxious or obstinate person in the crowd is slowly pushed out of the group. This is done by the group ignoring, not responding, recognizing or otherwise engaging. The individual if mature realizes that they are not welcome and slowly fades away. The group holds their breath hoping that their suffering will end. In today’s world however there are people paid to be obnoxious. So how does society handle this type of a situation, especially in a free speech group?
What about Trump’s coverup of the Epstein files? A special prosecutor should investigate Trump’s actions in regard to the numerous credible accusations of sexual assault by him.
Great idea!!!! You can never beat a dead horse too much!!!!!!
Heck, there a probably many, many, many daft people like E. Jean Carrol out there who claim “sexual assault” (but can’t even remember what year it took place)!!
Only a special prosecutor will clear up the Epstein files, Hunter’s laptop, the grassy knoll, and the Area 51 coverup!!! Hire Jack Smith BEFORE he slips back to Europe!!!!!!
What about Trump’s coverup of the Epstein files?
Oho! What a feeble deflection in your Midol Moment of anguish! Why is the Biden coverup of “the Epstein Files” now Trump’s coverup? You want Larry Summers and every elected Democrat politician who was taking donations from and communicating with Epstein while in House committee meetings investigated by a special prosecutor?
Or perhaps the now retired President Daddy-Daughter Inappropriate White House Incest Showers investigated for child rape, child sexual abuse, and the rape of an intern back when he was a senator? Confident that a special prosecutor who said he was competent enough to be president but not competent enough to stand trial for bribery, money laundering, and other charges would say the same thing again?
ATS – all these allegations have ALREADY been investigated, and contra the left which keeps dredging them up – they have all been found without merrit.
Before he has in politics Trump was already a target for this type of lawsuit.
He was inarguably a “playboy” and he was inarguably wealthy.
And in fact as we saw with the Daniels case – he did on rare occasions Pay Off Accusers to kill the story – even where the story itself was complete garbage.
There are 3 allegation that Trump raped a 13yr old – they are all made by the same person. The allegations were filed in three different courts in 3 different parts of the country alleging the same thing. The plantif was unable to provide evidence that Trump was in the same state as they were at the time of the alleged incident – and the cases were dissmissed.
There is a long list of other cases similar dispatched.
There are no credible claims.
I have little problems beleiving that Trump had a sexual relationship with Stormy Daniels.
But I read the transcript of her testimony and in the end I did not find her beleivable.
That does not matter much with regard to the NYC Trump case. Which is why she never should have been allowed to testify.
That case was about the payments to her – NOT the reasons for them. It did not matter whether Daniels was paid for silence about the truth or about a lie.
All that mattered was whether there was actual fraud in the payments – and from the start it was crystal clear there was not.
Fraud requires that a party is deprived of property that is theirs by right, through deception.
There is no property rights in information about another persons private life just because there is an election.
It does not matter whether Trump paid daniels for silence about the truth or about a lie, whether he did so to win an election or to make life with Melania easier. All of those are perfectly legal. Paying off Daniels is perfectly legal.
Listing the payments as legal feees is both correct and even if it were not – still not fraud. Contra Bragg, you can lie all you want in your business records. It is not usually a wise way to run a business – but thay are your records, you can lie to yourself all you want.
What you can not do is lie to others in order to deprive them of property that is theirs. You can not lie to avoid taxes – Cohen did that, Trump did not. The fact there was no charge of tax evasion is actually damning to the brag case. It is nearly impossible to lie in your business records in a way that is fraudulent without also lying about taxes.
Sounds good John Say. I like the way you descaled it to the kernel issue.
He used a Kernel Debugger and found a corrupted heap.
None of these allegations constitutie federal crimes – Special Counsels investigate alleged federal crime committed by someone where the DOJ is conflicted from investigating and prosecuting.
State and local prosecutors have dealt with all these bogus allegations decades before Trump descended the escalator.
There is no doubt Trump was a playboy, that he cheated on his wives.
But there is no credible allegation that he committed sexual assault.
The E Jean Carrol case should have been dismissed at the start.
She has not made a claim that it was possible to defend against.
That is the reason that we have Statutes of limitations.
Comey lied to congress twice – there are multiple records proving this
We do not need to rely on unreliable memories.
Comey can review the testimony he gave and try to explain why it was not a lie.
Trump can not defend against EJC’s allegation – it is not even he said, she said, it is just she said in such a vague way that nothing is testable.
If Carrole provided a date for this event or anything to narrow the time frame – Trump could review his ow records of a very public life to attempt to prove he was not where she claimed when she claimed. This is how he has had other allegations dismissed.
Trump has always lead a very public life – there are always people arround him there is always a record of where he was and when.
The EJC case should have been dismissed – as myriad of others for failure to provide evidence.
Anon 9:43am – You must get paid overtime to post your manufactured fiction on Holidays? Have a happy Thanksgiving
What in the world are you talking about ?
For Four years YOU said nothing – There is nothing you are demanding of Trump that Biden could not have done as easily for the past 4 years.
ONLY Since Trump took office are we seeing Epstein files.
Absolutely slower than expected – but certaintly infinitely faster than the JFK files.
Bondi release some things very early.
Two democratic judges properly shutdown the release of a significant amount of the investigation from Epstein.
You can not release GJ material, and generally you can not release investigative material EXCEPT when you prosecute someone.
This is a constitutional problem. Just because the government gains access to a persons private information does not mean it can share it publicly.
Regardless, you got alot. Then House republicans subpeona’d the epstein Estate – Any records that are obtained independent of a Criminal investigation can be made public – such as congressional records.
Today we have vast amounts of epsteins records – from House Republicans subpeona of the epstein estate.
More Recently the House subpeoned the DOJ/FBI investigative records. That is an end arround the courts.
With few exceptions DOJ must honor a house subpeona, and the house can then release those records – or try to – we still could see a lawsuit to stop the house from releasing records. Regardless, Trump and Republicans are trying to get those records out.
Biden and democrats did nothing.
If there is a coverup – it is by democrats – not republicans.
But in the end it really does not matter. Like it or not DOJ is legally required to redact most identifying information from what they provide even to the house – the epstein estate has no such constraint.
Regardless, idiots like you are ranting about a coverup.
It does not matter what is made available – YOU will always claim that something was covered up-.
You likely still beleive that Trump colluded with Russia to win in 2016.
You can’t fix stupid.
The Pantheon of DEIers announces the Convocation for the Intellectual Internment of Fani Willis!
Date: February 29, 2026
Place (yet to be specifically confirmed): Belize, DC, Atlanta or ?
Invocation: Her Witchness, Emily (giggles) Kohrs
Welcoming: Former Acting U.S. Solicitor General Neal Katyal
Induction speech: “You really have it all, don’t you?” by Prosecutor Joyce Vance
Closing remarks: “I didn’t know you were so talented” by Professor of something or other, Laurence Tribe
All contributions and transactions associated with this event are ‘cash only’.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! It’s good to be alive, pray to your God of choice that he brings peace to earth and prosperity and blessings to ALL.
Actually Fulton County is larger than the city of Atlanta. Fulton County is the largest county in Georgia and has approx 1 million residents. It contains most of the city of Atlanta which has only 500,000 residents. So she did win the County and not the city of Atlanta. The metropolitan statistical area of Atlanta contains about 7 million residents.
She was an effective County district attorney and assistant district attorney up until she took on this harebrained case. Of note she did prosecute and convict 11 of 12 educators who were implicated in the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal and she used the RICO statute to convict them of racketeering so I think you can see where she tried the same thing in the Trump case.
Where she was effective previously, she seemed to lose her judgement in the Trump case.
Read her Wikepedia site. She is not originally from Georgia but grew in California and the D.C area and graduated from Emory University Law School (which was the reason she came to the Atlanta area and stayed).
I thought her pursuit of Trump was abominable but her previous history was fairly straight forward.
I grew up in Atlanta and Fulton Co but left long ago so I have no other grasp of the political situation in Georgia.
Hate to state the obvious, but don’t you think her behavior and atrocious actions as a DA in the Trump case cast doubt on her prior cases??
Just because she won using a tactic does not pronounce her as “an effective County district attorney and assistant district attorney”. In fact, her abuse and repeated use of that tactic is cause for suspicion.
I’ve seen TDS work its magic with others. She ruined her career on it. Well done, Fannie.
Someone is using AI a lot. Can’t think for yourself?
If any district attorney can go after a political campaign organization for “fraud” under RICO, politics is criminalized. I’m torn.
Happy Thanksgiving Ms. Halligan.
“Even if Halligan manages to keep her law license, she will never recover her professional reputation. It’s the Trump effect.”
What’s this got to do with “Fanny” Willis? Halligan was removed supposedly by an incorrect appointment, much like Jack Smith was appointed. Bondi will get the appointment right and charges will be reinstated, count on it,
Bobndi lied to a judge. How long will she keep her law license?
No, Comey lied on a much grander scale, to a FISA court in his part of a seditious conspiracy. He Will Pay for it, count on it schill.
Bobndi lied to a judge. How long will she keep her law license?
Your Midol Moment at the sad news is leading to you aimlessly deflecting. Let me help you with that:
Willis lied not only to a judge but also committees investigating what appear to be other felonies – all while funneling taxpayer funds to her human sex toy to take her on sex tours. How long will she stay out of jail, never mind keep her law license
ATS what lie is it that you think either Bondi or Halligan told the court ?
We get this stupidity out of you left wing nuts all the time.
First – this decision is being appealed – it is near certain it will be reversed.
When that occurs are we going to disbarr Judge Currie for “lying”
Of course not – disagreements over the law – even moronic ones such as Judge Curries are not lies, they are at most error.
All of us make mistakes – though those of you on the left go out of your way to assure that you will get it wrong nearly all of the time,
Being mistaken is not lying, it is not usually incompetence – though being mistaken all the time – such as those of you on the left have been – that is incompetence.
The only people for who there is evidence of lies in this mess are Comey and James who inarguably lied.
No matter how the appointment of Halligan is ultimately resolved, no one involved lied.
But someone will be found to be wrong regarding the law.
“Even if Halligan manages to keep her law license, she will never recover her professional reputation. It’s the Trump effect.”
“Even if Willis does not go to jail but manages to keep her law license, she will never recover her professional reputation. It’s the Trump Derangement Syndrome effect.”
Fixed your sophomoric deflection for you; no need to thank me, you’re welcome. Today of all days we should give thanks we also aren’t suffering from mental illness.
Maybe but the air time might get her purchased for Prince Salmon’s harem?
ATS – Halligan will not only keep her license – she will keep her job and the indictments will be reinstated – not refiled.
It will take a very long time, but Comey and James will stand trial.
FANI’s Kangaroo Show Trial of Trump and Assoc. was a Democrat/Never Trump frame up and show. How Fulton County puts up with this game and large expense is highly questionable unless they were ordered by the DEMS. The one thing I will miss is her boy friend she hired with no experience, the picture of him testfying in court when asked if he and FANI spent a night in a Cabin on taxpayer expense and him looking wondering if there were cameras at the cabin was perfect. Think she paid hid $259999 plus plus plus and expenes? Plus his trips to the White House.
KEEPING thousands of dollars in your home is a “black thing”??? Way to go FANI!!
Leftwing fascists like Fani Willis are the greatest threat to American constitutional republic.
Fascism is generally not considered left-wing by the prevailing academic and historical understanding of the political spectrum. The ideology is typically classified as far-right due to its core tenets of ultranationalism, authoritarianism, social hierarchy, and opposition to egalitarianism and leftist movements such as socialism and communism.
Just goes to show how stoopid anti-fascists are.
Fascism is generally not considered left-wing by the prevailing academic and historical understanding of the political spectrum.
The word “fascism” has been so badly folded, spindled and mutilated by Democrats following Democrat communist Saul Alinsky’s operations manual “Rules For Radicals”, that it doesn’t really have any coherent meaning anymore. And from their other operations manual, George Orwell’s “1984”, where the government agent telling Winston as he’s undergoing brainwashing “The revolution will be complete when the language is perfect”.
It has been co-opted to be used as a pejorative instead; used as an deflection and excuse by Democrat police state fascists still attempting to justify the felonious Trump-Russia Dossier, where Obama and then Biden subverted the DoJ and FBI into serving as the Democrat party’s personal STASI. While they hope to claim Trump made their police state fascism necessary to save their version of democracy, they were engaged in police state fascism long before Trump. Alaska Senator Ted Stevens (one of Lisa Monaco’s first political kills) and Obama’s most feared 2012 reelection opponent Governor Bob McDonnell being another.
The left is filled with a bunch of tyrannical nut jobs. I’d rather be semi-authoritarian(simply enforcing laws but not encroaching rights) than a tyrant.
Like all of these attention seeking crazies with a law license, Fannie didn’t think up this case on her own and her election had some ballot box stuffing help. It’s the same old story follow the money.
So, where is the money now?
Probably in cash about Ms. Willis’ home – “it’s a black thing.”
What it looks like when emotionally stunted children grow up; graduate law school; and find themselves in adult roles with authority. We must all get used to it, or figure out how to control it. Without early and successful “adulting” experiences in children, we can expect more public figures to behave as this forewomen does, or as the prosecutor and those she hired around her demonstrated. Children will be running the country, as we sadly saw in the Biden administration. Make Public Service for Adults Again!
Emotionally stunted children?
So you’re an adult huh? If anything, your comment is childish.
Are you talking about all the trump lawyers that have lost their law license for the BS they did for trump?
How’s that working out for the latest trump scapegoat, Ms. Halligan?
Ummm. No mention of halligan or lost licenses in the above comment. But it did state your comment is childish.
“Quiet. Quiet! Piggy.”
I lived in Fulton county many years ago. Problem is that the county includes the city of Atlanta, which hosts the majority of votes and is funded by the suburb towns around it. Several of these towns would like to be separated from Fulton county, but do not have the votes to do so. Willis was elected by her Atlanta fellow grifters. Those with common sense in Fulton county are in the minority and used to fund the spendthrift of the Atlanta Democrats, and lack the power to unseat incompetent officials like Willis.
Fascists in Georgia? You sure?
Where in DD comment did he use the word (Fascists)?
Another stupid comment by Ano.
I see why you use Ano.
“I see why you use Ano.”
Your browser somehow truncated the “h” in “Aho” to an “n”…
Ano short for Anonymous you fool.
Nice try
You’re the guy with the “collage” degree right?
Claims he uses a spell checker for his 5 word comments. Ya, a spell checker for simple sentences. And it failed him.
And now dustoff claims he has two “collage” degrees.
Can’t make that stuff up folks.
Try harder
Did you use a spell checker on that comment? Obviously not, you forgot the period.
DustOff,
The poor, poor annony moron has nothing so she has to resort to even dumber things like you didn’t use a period. What a pathetic loser she is. And anyone with any degree of common sense can tell when you use Ano, that is a reference to “anonymous.” But according to the annony moron, you have to have a college degree to know that.
Happy Thanksgiving!
It’s the people that elected Willis, Bragg, James, etc., that should hang their heads in shame. There will always be fools, charlatans and idiots, but you just don’t put them into positions of power.
should hang their heads in shame? Why? That’s what they voted for.
True, there are fools and charlatans. Hold up a mirror.
You hold one up, guaranteed there’s no reflection bloodsucker!
Can’t shame people who have no morals
Willis and Wade= DUMB and DUMBER!
How about some damages for malicious prosecution? Prosecutors often use the high cost of litigation to get easy settlements? Loser pays should be the law of the land otherwise there is no limit to governmental prosecutorial abuse.
Damages? how do you suggest proving malicious prosecution?
District Attorney Fani Willis consistently failed to meet the low standards that she set for herself. I feel sorry for the people of Fulton County who elected her after they discovered how stupid she really is.
But now they call her Fani the Phony, Witch Hunter Willis, Soros’ Sock Puppet, Lawfare Loser, Fulton County Flop, Partisan Prosecutor Barbie, Election Interference Eunuch, DA Disgrace, Empty Bag Fani, Corrupt Kangaroo Queen, and Trump Derangement DA.
Fani Willis is outstanding in her field; and if you look, you will see her standing there.
Fani Willis finished High School, College, and Law School the same way Kamala Harris did, on her back with her legs spread.
Are you kidding us? What a deranged comment.
I don’t really have any sympathy for the voters of Fulton County, Chicago or New York. If anything you should fear them. Understand that these are the same voters who dominate many of the metropolitan areas of the country can vote away your rights, freedom and prosperity along with their in a single election. They are the voters who support packing the Supreme Court, statehood for DC and Puerto Rico, and open borders. They have no clue what socialism would do to the country. Venezuela did it and so can we.
Willis and Wade should of had their fannies in Jail!
For what exactly?
Lying under oath for one!
Inadvertent misrepresentation of facts. That’s a crime?
Inadvertent lying from the prosecutors? HUH? A big scam from Willis and Wade!!
Proof?
YOU? “Proof”? 🤣
Oh oh the cavalry has arrived. Run for the hills anons!
No need to run, you already exposed yourself.
If that is your standard, trump should get a life sentence.
Misappropriation of funds
Fraud
Im sure there are various crimes committed that would apply to white people…
BECAUSE. THEY. ARE. FASCISTS, Professor.
“Quiet. Quiet! Piggy”