Atlanta hip-hop icon T.I. reportedly made an offer to endorse Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis during her campaign, provided she severed ties with specific endorsements.
Details of this encounter are disclosed in the book “Find Me The Votes” by investigative journalists Daniel Klaidman and Michael Isikoff, shedding light on Donald Trump’s alleged attempts to influence the 2020 presidential election and Willis’ groundbreaking indictment against him.
According to reports, T.I. expressed dissatisfaction that Willis was receiving support from a police union and conservative city council member Mary Norwood.
The rapper, also known as Clifford Harris, proposed that he and other artists would back her campaign if she disavowed these endorsements. Willis, however, firmly responded:
“No. I represent all segments of my community.”
The book offers readers an insider’s perspective into Willis’ endeavors to indict Trump and his allies, aiming to overturn the election results in Georgia.
Describing Willis as a “force of nature,” Klaidman commended her ability to stand up to challenges, citing the interaction with T.I. as an example on AJC’s Politically Georgia podcast.
While T.I. is recognized for his philanthropic efforts and was recently honored with the Phoenix Award by city mayor Andre Dickens, it remains unclear if he publicly endorsed any candidate in the district attorney race.
Willis assumed office in January 2021 after winning the general election in November 2020.
T.I. has a history of using his platform to address issues such as police brutality and racism. In 2017, he led a boycott against a local steakhouse accused of discriminatory behavior.
Later, he joined a task force attempting to transform Atlanta City Detention Center into a center for wellness and crime prevention. Additionally, he played a role in encouraging voter participation in the previous presidential election alongside other Atlanta rap stars.
However, T.I.’s involvement in politics has not been without controversy. In 2021, mayoral candidate Felicia Moore accused him of spreading “lies” on social media, which she believed influenced the election’s outcome.
