Fani Willis Calls Herself 'Face of Feminist Movement'

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said she feels she has become the "face of the feminist movement" amid the failed effort to disqualify her from prosecuting former President Donald Trump.

Willis last year charged Trump and 18 others for efforts to allegedly overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia, which the former president has claimed was stolen despite a lack of evidence.

Her investigation focused on Trump's phone call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, in which he allegedly asked him to find enough votes to tilt the election in his favor, and the alleged plot to submit a false slate of pro-Trump electors to the Electoral College. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges, maintaining his innocence.

However, the case was halted after attorneys representing one of Trump's co-defendants raised concerns about the relationship between Willis and the lead prosecutor on the case, Nathan Wade.

Defense attorneys argued their romantic relationship should have led to her disqualification, alleging the pair benefited from taxpayer dollars. Willis, however, maintained that she engaged in no wrongdoing and that their relationship began only after he was hired.

Judge Sean McAfee ultimately ruled that Willis could stay on the case so long as Wade was removed as the prosecutor. The effort, while unsuccessful, further delayed the trial and raised questions about Willis' conduct.

During an interview with CNN over the weekend, Willis said she has seen an outpouring of support from women amid the disqualification effort.

"I told Jeff one day, I didn't think I was the face of the feminist movement, but somehow I became it. And I think that women feel like women are treated differently when they're professionals and they're proud to see someone that is strong and trying to do the right job," she said.

Willis said she is "flawed like every human being," adding she plans to continue to try to do her job honorably.

Her team has continued to work on the case amid the attempts to delay, she said, warning that "the train is coming" for Trump.

"I am not a perfect human being, but what I am is a hardworking human being, and a human being that loves the community I serve and who understands this seat does not belong to me. It belongs to the people. And as long as I'm here, I'm going to try to do the job in a way that is honorable," she said.

Newsweek reached out to Willis' office for comment via email.

Her remarks drew scrutiny from conservative pundit Megyn Kelly, who wrote in a blog post she does not believe Willis is a "feminist icon."

"One of the three prosecutors who are going after former President Donald Trump criminally is out there owning the fact that she is really leaning into how people perceive her and look up to her because she is so fearless and won't stand down," Kelly wrote.