1. Judge issues disqualification ruling against Fulton County DA Fani Willis in Trump’s election interference case
2. Willis dated the man she hired as special prosecutor to oversee the case
3. Lawyer for Trump codefendant argues that Willis benefited from the special prosecutor’s hire
Judge Scott McAfee ruled that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis can continue to oversee the state election interference case involving former President Donald Trump, but only if her top prosecutor steps aside. McAfee’s decision came after a three-day evidentiary hearing focusing on misconduct allegations against Willis and the lawyer she hired for the case, Nathan Wade. The judge stated that either Wade must step down or Willis and her entire office must relinquish the case.
Willis was accused of benefiting from her relationship with Wade, whom she dated and then hired as a special prosecutor for the Trump case. The defense argued that Willis had a conflict of interest due to this relationship, alleging that Wade financially supported Willis, including paying for her travel expenses. However, both Willis and Wade testified that they only started dating after working together and have since ended the relationship.
Despite criticism of Willis’ judgment and behavior during the hearings, McAfee ultimately did not find a true conflict of interest. However, he acknowledged the perception of a conflict and gave the District Attorney the option to step aside, along with her office, or for Wade to withdraw from the case. McAfee believed that allowing the association between Willis and Wade to continue would compromise the public’s confidence in the legal system.
In conclusion, while the judge did not find concrete evidence of wrongdoing on Willis’ part, he emphasized the importance of maintaining the appearance of impartiality and professionalism in high-profile cases to uphold public trust in the legal system.