Fani Willis Hit With New Legal Problem

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and other local officials are named in a lawsuit filed by Georgia Representative Mesha Mainor.

The lawsuit alleges that Willis, Commissioner Marvin Arrington, the Fulton County Ethics Board and the county itself were derelict in its duties to properly litigate a criminal case in which Mainor was repeatedly stalked by a former friend and political associate.

A spokesperson for Mainor told Newsweek via email that the congresswoman will provide more details on the lawsuit during a press conference on Tuesday.

Newsweek reached out to the Fulton County District Attorney's Office via email for comment.

Mainor, who in 2020 was elected by a large margin by constituents of House District 56 in the Democratic stronghold of Atlanta, made headlines last July when she switched parties and officially became a Republican—saying at the time that she was no longer morally comfortable in complying with Democrats' "left-wing radicalism, lawlessness, and putting the interests of illegal aliens over the interest of Americans."

Willis has become a prominent national figure due to leading the investigation that led to indictments against former President Donald Trump and 18 of his allies for allegedly attempting to overturn Georgia's 2020 election results. Trump has accused Willis of targeting him as part of a broader political "witch hunt."

Manor's lawsuit, filed April 2 in Fulton County Superior Court, states that in January 2019 she hired a man named Corwin Monson as a campaign volunteer. The pair was described as associates for several years who had many friends in common.

He "assured" Mainor he could help her get elected, though one month later she was "forced to terminate" him after she witnessed "his unruly, belligerent behavior."

It allegedly led to repeated displays of stalking in a variety of forms, including Monson showing up uninvited to campaign or church events; sitting outside her home; calling her from different phone numbers and leaving voicemails; and even coming to her home to propose to her in front of her minor children.

Monson was "in love" with Mainor, according to the suit, despite a romantic relationship never having taken place.

In August 2019, Mainor filed a Temporary Protective Order (TPO) against Monson that was granted by a judge. He was arrested in September 2019 and September 2020 for violating the TPO and was indicted by Fulton County for aggravated stalking after the second incident.

A second aggravated assault charge occurred in January 2021, causing Monson to face up to 20 years behind bars.

But the suit alleges that Arrington, who defended Monson in a legal capacity, "used his influence to circumvent the office policies of the District Attorney's office," such as by copying the district attorney on emails, directly negotiating plea deals, and demanding meetings.

Arrington is also alleged to have told Willis "that b**** is crazy", in reference to Mainor—claimed within the suit to have peddled his influence to in turn influence Willis.

After Willis was sworn in January 2021, she became responsible for the Monson case.

She reportedly dismissed one of his aggravated stalking cases. On the other charge, she offered a plea of three years with one year served in prison and the rest probation.

Mainor said she was never informed of the plea deal, claimed to be a violation of the Georgia Crime Victims Bill of Rights.

"Furthermore, due to DA Willis' bias towards Mr. Arrington, Plaintiff Mainor has experienced disparate treatment under the law as a victim," the suit states. "Plaintiff Mainor has been forced to advocate for herself and her safety, although that is the District Attorney's role."

The Fulton County Ethics Board got involved in October 2020, when Mainor filed a complaint against Arrington. But for different alleged reasons, the Board closed the complaint in March 2021.

Monson, who was released from prison in November 2021, allegedly began stalking Mainor again.

Mainor is seeking compensatory and consequential damages, including damages for emotional distress, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life, and other pain and suffering.