ATLANTA (AP) — In a notable political move, Courtney Kramer, a Republican lawyer with ties to the Trump administration, has announced her candidacy for Fulton County District Attorney, taking on Fani Willis, the prosecutor known for bringing charges against former President Donald Trump related to the 2020 election.
Kramer interned in the White House counsel’s office during Trump’s presidency and is actively involved in GOP organizations, marking her as the first Republican to run for the district attorney position in Fulton County since 2000.
Fulton County, which includes a significant portion of Atlanta and 11% of Georgia’s electorate, is predominantly Democratic. Willis, who assumed office in January 2021 after a contentious primary victory over former District Attorney Paul Howard, gained national attention shortly after her tenure began. In February 2021, she launched an investigation into potential illegal actions by Trump and others in their attempts to overturn his narrow defeat in Georgia to Democrat Joe Biden.
Her extensive investigation led to a sweeping racketeering indictment against Trump and 18 co-defendants in August 2023. To date, four individuals have pleaded guilty in connection with the case, while Trump and the remaining defendants maintain their not guilty pleas.
Kramer, 31, entered the district attorney race in March, asserting that the prosecution of Trump was politically motivated and a misuse of resources. Despite her criticisms, she indicated that, if elected, she would recuse herself from the Trump case due to her previous work with two of the defendants.
In her campaign, Kramer emphasizes her commitment to “front-end prosecution,” advocating for a swift review of incoming cases to expedite bond decisions, provide timely discovery to defense lawyers, and explore early plea options.
Meanwhile, incumbent DA Willis, 53, highlighted her achievements during her time in office, including the initiation of a pre-indictment diversion program and efforts to reduce gang involvement among youth. She aims to enhance resources for domestic violence victims in a potential second term, citing reductions in homicide rates and a decrease in unindicted cases as significant accomplishments.