By Daphne Moon
Symone Sanders-Townsend, the co-anchor of MSNBC’s The Weekend, took a bold stance on the ongoing investigation into Fani Willis’ alleged misconduct. In a recent episode, Sanders asserted that the investigation has hints of sexism and racism. Referring to the French saying, she stated, “what had to happen, has happened.” In other words, it was predictable that race and gender would be brought into the equation to defend Willis.
Sanders acknowledged that she was “very animated” about the issue, which was a slight understatement considering her passionate delivery. She expressed her belief that if Willis were a man named Frank who had hired a woman named Susie, the investigation would not be taking place. In her view, this double standard highlights a deeper issue of sexism and racism in our society.
As Sanders was wrapping up her argument, she boldly declared, “It’s a little sexist. It’s a little racist.” While many may disagree with her assessment, Sanders is not without some valid points. She brought up the case of General Peter Gersten, who was demoted from his position and convicted of a crime for having a sexual relationship with a subordinate. This calls into question if the consequences would have been the same if he were a female or a person of color.
Another example Sanders could have mentioned is the highly publicized case of David Petraeus, a well-known military commander and potential future presidential candidate. He was also convicted for sharing classified documents with a girlfriend while serving as CIA director. These cases illustrate that people in positions of power and trust are held accountable for their actions, regardless of their gender or race.
Sanders received support from co-anchor Michael Steele, who repeatedly murmured his agreement throughout her argument. However, he also pointed out that the case of DA Alvin Bragg, who is prosecuting former President Trump for payments to Stormy Daniels, does not have the same issue. As a male, Bragg did not make the questionable decision to have a romantic relationship with a member of his team, unlike Willis.
Co-anchor Alicia Menendez, daughter of Senator Bob Menendez, stayed out of the conversation until the end, where she expressed her alignment with Sanders’ point of view. Given her personal experience with her father’s legal troubles, Menendez is familiar with the damaging effects of persecuting public servants.
Sanders’ statements on the Fani Willis investigation have stirred up controversy, but she also brings up some valid points. While the investigation may seem like a case of sexism and racism, it is also essential to consider the consequences of controversial actions, regardless of one’s gender or race. The discussion on this topic may continue, but it is clear that it raises larger questions about equality and accountability in our society.
