The judge in the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump and others said Friday that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis must step aside from Trump case or remove the special prosecutor with whom she had a romantic relationship before case can proceed.
Quick Read
- The judge in Georgia’s election interference case against Donald Trump and others ruled that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis must withdraw from the Trump case or remove the special prosecutor, Nathan Wade, due to their prior romantic relationship.
- Willis and Wade testified they had a romantic relationship but denied that Willis benefited improperly from it, as alleged by Trump’s lawyers and co-defendants.
- Judge Scott McAfee found no actual conflict of interest but noted an “appearance of impropriety” due to the ongoing relationship and financial transactions between Willis and Wade.
- Co-defendant Michael Roman’s attorney requested the indictment’s dismissal and the disqualification of Willis and Wade from the prosecution, citing financial benefits Willis allegedly gained from Wade’s earnings from the case.
- Willis argued there was no conflict of interest from her relationship with Wade, stating their relationship started in spring 2022 and ended in summer 2023, and that she personally covered or reimbursed travel expenses.
The Associated Press has the story:
Judge: Fulton County DA Fani Willis must step aside or remove special prosecutor in Trump case
Newslooks- ATLANTA (AP) —
The judge in the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump and others said Friday that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis must step aside from Trump case or remove the special prosecutor with whom she had a romantic relationship before case can proceed.
Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade testified at a hearing last month that they had engaged in a romantic relationship, but they rejected the idea that Willis improperly benefited from it as lawyers for Trump and some of his co-defendants alleged.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee said he found the “allegations and evidence legally insufficient to support a finding of an actual conflict of interest.” However, he found there remains an “appearance of impropriety.”
“Even if the romantic relationship began after SADA Wade’s initial contract in November 2021, the District Attorney chose to continue supervising and paying Wade while maintaining such a relationship. She further allowed the regular and loose exchange of money between them without any exact or verifiable measure of reconciliation,” the judge wrote.
An attorney for co-defendant Michael Roman asked McAfee to dismiss the indictment and prevent Willis and Wade and their offices from continuing to prosecute the case. The attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, alleged that Willis paid Wade large sums for his work and then improperly benefited from the prosecution of the case when Wade used his earnings to pay for vacations for the two of them.
Willis had insisted that the relationship created no financial or personal conflict of interest that justified removing her office from the case. She and Wade both testified that their relationship began in the spring of 2022 and ended in the summer of 2023. They both said that Willis either paid for things herself or used cash to reimburse Wade for travel expenses.
