HENYARD AND WILLIS: THE DIVAS
L. FANI WILLIS, FULTON COUNTY, GA. R. TIFFANY HENYARD DOLTON, ILLINOIS
BY THE LEGAL EAGLE
Both Fani Willis and Tiffany Henyard are prominent public officials facing significant legal and political challenges. Their situations attract national attention due to both their distinct differences and similarities. Both women’s stories are likely to end up on Netflix.
However, having one’s life featured on Netflix is not always flattering to one’s career. To make their life events appealing to the public, the narratives will likely emphasize the negatives, which may be entertaining for a short while. Neither of them is a private person; both are public figures.
This means that anything that has happened in their personal lives, including events involving their spouses, marriages, divorces, and infidelities, will be fodder for publication.
It is crucial, as a nation, to be careful not to make them feel as if they are being singled out due to their identities as Black women rather than their roles as politicians. Both exhibit strong tempers and embody the juxtaposition of being political leaders who refuse to have the law applied to their own lives (plainly put – both feel the law does not apply to them). They resemble the emperor in the old children’s tale “The Emperor Has No Clothes.”
Their personal shenanigans are quite extreme. For instance, Henyard does not recognize anyone in power in Dolton, where she resides and already has an arrest history there. She recently spent $500,000 of taxpayer money on her mother’s driveway. She has spent several hundred thousand in promoting herself on billboards as well as traveling to Las Vegas. She insists on having more law enforcement officers looking after herself and her properties than is reasonable and the community is missing millions which she refuses to account for.
Meanwhile, Willis spent several years dating one of her married employees yet lied about it repeatedly as if she were a teenager. She made her private life even more entertaining by justifying her immorality and deception from church pulpits. Willis has circled the wagons and refuses anyone to use lawful public information requests to obtain information on her wasteful if not illegal spending. Millions in both Department of Justice funds as well as Civilian Asset Forfeiture funds have been accepted by Willis, but she won’t share her required reporting ledgers.
When Congress, the Supreme Court, or any legal authority addresses their behavior, both women often allege that they are being admonished unfairly, claiming that race is a factor in their scrutiny. While it is important to acknowledge the complexities of race relations, it is equally vital to recognize the reality of their actions and the consequences that follow.
Their defiance of both the United States Congress and the Supreme Courts of their respective states may ultimately lead to their downfall. They are skirting the letter of the law, which could eventually result in their arrest if not incarceration.
Unfortunately, they both enjoy pushing the envelope, so it won’t be long before their reputations are damaged beyond repair, making a return to public office impossible. They both seem to feel they are above the law. This mindset often drives them to act against the law as it is written and will likely lead to their undoing.
Fani Willis
- Position: District Attorney of Fulton County, Georgia.
- Legal Issues: Willis is currently dealing with a lawsuit alleging her office violated Georgia’s Open Records Act by not fully complying with public records requests related to the 2020 election interference case involving former President Donald Trumphttps://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/fulton-county-denied-dismissal-open-records-lawsuit-over-2020-election-case-docs. Additionally, she has faced accusations of retaliating against employees who reported misuse of federal fundshttps://www.gpb.org/news/2024/05/24/senate-investigative-panel-questions-former-fulton-county-da-employee-in-willis.
- Public Perception: Willis has been a polarizing figure, especially due to her role in high-profile cases like the Trump investigation. She has faced both support and criticism, particularly from political opponentshttps://judiciary.house.gov/media/press-releases/republicans-threaten-hold-fani-willis-contempt.
Tiffany Henyard
- Position: Mayor of Dolton, Illinois.
- Legal Issues: Henyard is embroiled in multiple legal battles, including an eviction lawsuit for unpaid rent and a federal investigation for alleged misuse of municipal funds. She has also faced a recall vote and ongoing disputes with village trustees.
- Public Perception: Henyard’s tenure has been marked by controversy, including accusations of illegal appointments and retaliatory actions against opponents. Her leadership style has been described as contentious, with frequent clashes with other local officials.
Comparison
- Transparency Issues: Both officials have faced criticism for lack of transparency. Willis’s office has been accused of not complying with public records requests while Henyard has been involved in disputes over her handling of municipal operations and appointments.
- Legal Battles: Each has ongoing legal challenges, though the nature of these issues differs.
Willis’s challenges are largely related to her prosecutorial role and high-profile cases, whereas Henyard’s issues are more varied, including financial mismanagement and administrative disputes.
- Public and Political Scrutiny: Both women are under intense public and political scrutiny. Willis’s high-profile cases have drawn national attention, while Henyard’s local governance issues have led to significant local controversy.
- In Dolton, Illinois, enough people were alarmed and offended by Henyard’s behavior that they brought in outside professionals to handle matters that Henyard has not allowed anyone to discuss or see.
- In Fulton County, Atlanta, the issues are so severe and obstructed that both the United States Congress and the Georgia Supreme Court are now going to “peel back the onion’s layers.”
