A Georgia judge has ruled that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis should not be disqualified from prosecuting the racketeering case against former President Donald Trump and several co-defendants, despite an ‘appearance of impropriety’ resulting from her romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade.
Georgia Judge Rules Fulton County District Attorney Should Remain on Trump Racketeering Case
A Georgia judge has ruled that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis should not be disqualified from prosecuting the racketeering case against former President Donald Trump and several co-defendants, despite an ‘appearance of impropriety’ resulting from her romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade.
( Credit to: Nbcnews )
Judge’s Ruling and Resignation of Special Prosecutor
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee found that the ‘appearance of impropriety’ from Willis’ relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade requires either Willis and her office or just Wade to leave the case.
Shortly after the judge’s decision, it was confirmed that Wade had resigned and Willis had accepted his resignation. This choice ensures that the case can continue without further delay.
Trump attorney Steve Sadow expressed disagreement with the court’s decision, stating that they believe the court did not properly consider the prosecutorial misconduct of Willis and Wade.
No ‘Actual Conflict’ Found, but ‘Appearance of Impropriety’
The judge’s ruling found that there was no ‘actual conflict’ resulting from the relationship between Willis and Wade, which would have required Willis to be disqualified. However, the judge did acknowledge the ‘appearance of impropriety’ that could impact the public’s perception of the case.
McAfee also expressed skepticism about Willis and Wade’s testimony regarding the timing of their relationship, suggesting that there may be questions about the truthfulness of their statements.
Case Continues with Lingering Suspicion
This ruling represents a partial victory for Willis and leaves open the possibility that the case could proceed before the 2024 presidential election. If Willis had been disqualified, a new prosecutor would have had to take over the case and catch up on the work that Willis had already done over the past two years.
The judge also criticized some of Wade’s testimony, suggesting that he had tried to conceal his relationship with Willis. The judge was unable to definitively establish when the relationship evolved into a romantic one but noted that there was a lingering suspicion of dishonesty.
Arguments and Dismissal Request
Trump attorney Steve Sadow expressed disagreement with the court’s decision, stating that they believe the court did not properly consider the prosecutorial misconduct of Willis and Wade. Sadow added that they will explore all legal options available to fight against a case that they believe should never have been brought in the first place.
A motion was filed by a lawyer representing one of Trump’s co-defendants, Michael Roman, requesting Willis’ disqualification and the dismissal of the criminal case due to her alleged improper relationship with Wade.
Speech Criticism and Fair Trial
The judge addressed a speech given by Willis in which she criticized unnamed individuals for attacking the lone Black special prosecutor, Wade. While McAfee deemed the speech legally improper, he did not find it sufficient grounds for Willis’ disqualification or a denial of a fair trial for the defendants.
Case Progress and Public Perception
This ruling allows the case to move forward, but the appearance of impropriety surrounding the relationship between Willis and Wade may continue to cast a shadow over the proceedings. It remains to be seen how this will impact the outcome of the case and the public’s perception of the prosecution.
