A co-defendant involved in the extensive RICO case against former President Donald Trump and his allies has made allegations of racism against Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
Harrison Floyd, the leader of Black Voices for Trump in 2020, made an announcement on Monday. He stated that he and his lawyers are preparing to bring an equal protection claim against Willis. According to Floyd, Willis is targeting certain defendants based on their skin color. It is worth noting that Floyd is one of the two Black co-defendants involved in the Georgia case.
In a video posted on social media, Floyd expressed his frustration with DA Willis, stating that despite being Black himself, Willis perceives him as white and labels him as a defender of white supremacists solely based on his political beliefs. Floyd believes that Willis harbors a deep-seated desire to punish him for what she sees as a betrayal to Black culture. He further alleges that her words and actions consistently display a strong animosity towards white individuals, and that she is determined to make this case solely about race.
Race has emerged as a growing point of contention in the ongoing case involving Trump and his associates. In a recent speech, Willis acknowledged that there is reluctance to discuss race, but she made it clear that she would address the issue nonetheless. She candidly stated that being Black presents certain difficulties and challenges.
In recent weeks, Judge Scott McAfee, who is overseeing the case, expressed his concerns regarding Willis’ previous remarks about race. Back in January, the district attorney faced backlash for implying that her critics were unfairly invoking race as a card. This criticism arose from the fact that special prosecutor Nathan Wade, who is Black, was being criticized, while the two other special prosecutors, who are white, were not receiving the same level of scrutiny. The scrutiny stemmed from the romantic relationship between Willis and Wade.
Floyd criticized Willis’ treatment of McAfee and the defense attorneys in the case as “racist” and “wrong” during his statement on Monday.
According to the statement, the sad truth is that DA Willis is influenced by her upbringing, which is deeply ingrained in radical, progressive ideology and racism. The speaker claims that she doesn’t hesitate to use her skin color and position to advance these ideals.
“We intend to present a motion to the court, urging it to exercise its judicial authority based on the principle of equal protection, as any form of racism is fundamentally unjust,” Floyd stated, emphasizing that the motion is not intended to prolong the case or single out Willis based on their race or gender.
According to former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani, Floyd’s desire to pursue allegations of racism against Willis may not hold much weight. Rahmani believes that Floyd’s claim “doesn’t have a chance.”
According to the expert, proving prosecutorial misconduct based on race, religion, or national origin can be challenging. He emphasized that in the case of Floyd, there is no evidence to support the claim that Willis prosecuted him due to his race.
Floyd, the sole co-defendant of Trump who has spent time at the Fulton County Jail, has been charged with three felonies including racketeering, conspiracy to solicit false statements, and influencing witnesses. Additionally, he is currently facing federal charges for allegedly assaulting an FBI agent in Maryland. Floyd maintains his innocence and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Floyd’s recent announcement follows another accusation against Willis last week. According to Floyd’s attorney, the district attorney allegedly violated Maryland’s Wiretap Act by recording a conversation between her and one of Floyd’s attorneys based in Maryland without their consent. It is worth noting that Maryland is one of the 11 states that mandates consent from both parties for a private conversation to be recorded.
“I wasn’t aware of any warrant, and it seemed like DA Willis was not acting in accordance with law enforcement since I was already in custody,” Floyd stated on Monday. “She clearly violated the law. The truth is that DA Willis was unhappy with the negative feedback she was receiving, and in several phone calls, she attempted to find a solution to the predicament she had caused.”
According to Rahman, even if Floyd and his team can provide evidence that Willis illegally recorded one of his attorneys, it would not be sufficient reason to dismiss the charges against him.