Fulton County District Attorney Fanni Willis has taken her time. By the end of February 2021, Willis had already announced her case investigating illegal “attempts to influence” the 2020 presidential election results.
Two years and six months later, she will arrest former President Donald Trump this week.
On Monday, Fulton County has begun securing its courthouse in a manner consistent with a former president’s arrival — a clear sign he will be indicted.
“I think that the sheriff is doing something smart and making sure that the courthouse stays safe,” Willis confirmed to an NBC affiliate last month, shortly after requesting security from the sheriff’s office. “I’m not willing to put any of the employees — or the constituents that come to the courthouse — in harm’s way.”
Willis has reportedly offered a timeline for indictment. In her remarks to the NBC affiliate, Willis committed to announcing her charging decisions by Sept. 1, the outlet reported.
“The work is accomplished,” Willis said. “We’ve been working for two and a half years. We’re ready to go.”
Trump has stepped up his criticism of Willis in advance of the expected charges. Earlier this month, he called Willis “a young woman, a young racist in Atlanta,” and he raised questions about her private life.
Take a look —
The scene outside the Fulton County courthouse right now … #gapol pic.twitter.com/LaBsmc4dEQ
— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) August 14, 2023
TRUMP ON FULTON COUNTY DA FANI WILLIS: "They say that she was after a certain gang and she ended up having an affair with the head of the gang or a gang member — and this a person that wants to indict me — she's got a lot of problems." pic.twitter.com/jCYhb9ttij
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 9, 2023
Willis announced her case just one month after Trump’s controversial phone call to Georgia’s secretary of state.
Willis is poised to become the third person to levy criminal charges against Trump, leapfrogged by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith.
The indictment that Willis will bring as soon as this week could be the most sprawling case against Trump.
Some critics say Willis overuses gang and RICO laws, unnecessarily complicating cases that could otherwise be tried in less time with fewer resources, just to get the enhanced penalties those statutes carry.
Willis has said she likes the RICO statute because it allows prosecutors to paint a more complete picture of the alleged illegal activity.
Since becoming district attorney, she has brought several RICO cases, including one against chart-topping rapper Young Thug. The first of her RICO cases to go to trial has been tied up in jury selection since January and is expected to last six to nine months once testimony gets underway.
Read more: Donald Trump to have a mugshot taken, Fulton County sheriff says…
The Horn editorial team and the Associated Press contributed to this article.