Fulton County Court rules in favor of Fani Willis; She can remain on Trump case if Wade steps aside

Georgia judge rules that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis can handle the Georgia election interference case AKA Georgia Trump case, that is when Former President Donald J. Trump and his 15 defendants tried to overturn the Georgia election results in 2020.

Why court proceedings distracted?

Georgia County District Attorney Fani Willis’s romantic relationship with Prosecutor Nathan Wade detoured the case for about 2 months and only to come back on track after Willis’s long drawn testimony in the court. Basically, Willis and Wade were in romantic relationship which, according to defendants and other republicans, influences the court proceeding and direction of the case.

One of the co-defendants, former Trump campaign official Michael Roman, accused Fani Willis of misconduct which influenced and even derail the Georgia Trump case. Michael Roman alleged that Willis enriched herself off the case by taking fancy vacations with Wade, funded by his compensation for the case.

What court ruled in Fani Willis case?

However, In 23-page ruling that followed hours of Dramatic courtroom testimony last month, Fulton Superior Judge Scott McAfee ruled that Willis romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, who she hired as the top special prosecutor, created a conflict of interest but did not require her disqualification.

Judge McAfee further wrote, “an outsider could reasonably think that the District Attorney is not exercising her independent professional judgment totally free of any compromising influences. As long as Wade remains on the case, this unnecessary perception will persist.”

McAfee clearly ruled that if Fani Willis want to remain on the helm of the case, Nathan Wade must resign. If Wade does not resign from the Georgia Trump case, Willis must step aside and “refer the prosecution to the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council for reassignment.”

McAfee observed that, “the evidence demonstrated that the financial gain flowing from her relationship with Wade was not a motivating factor on the part of the District Attorney to indict and prosecute.” He also wrote, “Defendants argue that the financial arrangement created an incentive to prolong the case, but in fact, there is no indication the District Attorney is interested in delaying anything,” McAfee wrote.

“Our highest courts consistently remind us that prosecutors are held to a unique and exacting professional standard in light of their public responsibility – and their power,” McAfee wrote. “Every newly minted prosecutor should be instilled with the notion that she seeks justice over convictions and that she may strike hard blows but never foul ones.”

Trump Defendant’s point of view

Trump’s lawyer, Steve Sadow wrote, we do respect court’s ruling but we will use all legal options available as we continue to fight to end this case, which should never have been brought in the first place.

However, The district attorney’s office has not yet responded to the judge’s order.

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