Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee has reportedly commented Fulton County District Attorney Fani T. Willis could be disqualified from her case against former President Donald Trump.
District Attorney Fani Willis had recently acknowledged her “personal relationship” with the special prosecutor she hired in her prosecution of President Trump.
Willis hired special prosecutor Nathan Wade in November 2021 despite Wade’s reportedly scant prosecutorial experience. Wade was appointed by Willis to lead her team of lawyers in bringing an election interference case against President Trump in Georgia.
After Willis' acknowledgment of her personal relationship with Wade, Various Trump co-defendants had requested both be removed from the case against them.
Willis’ office described these requests as “ill-conceived” and based on “reckless accusations.”
On Monday, February 12th, a motion hearing was held to decide whether a hearing into Willis and Wade’s relationship would be confirmed for Thursday, February 15.
Judge McAfee rejected Willis’ objections to the hearing.
"I think the issues at point here are whether a relationship existed, whether that relationship was romantic or non-romantic in nature, when it formed and whether it continues," said McAfee. "And that's only relevant because it's in combination with the question of the existence and extent of any personal benefit conveyed as a result of their relationship."
Now, Wade and other witnesses will have to testify at Thursday’s hearing into the extent and nature of Wade and Willis’ relationship and how it could have compromised the prosecution.
Conservatives and Trump allies have claimed Willis’ behavior as another sign demonstrating Willis’ case against President Trump was flawed from the outset.
US Representative Cory Mills (R-FL) has responded to the drama by drafting the Against Federal Funds for Allowing Inappropriate Relationships Act (AFFAIR).
The AFFAIR Act would prohibit federal funding for any state or local chief prosecutor office with individuals who have been convicted in engaging in corruption or any other unlawful activity.
Representative Mills extrapolated Willis’ personal relationship with Wade to suggest her case against Trump was an example of ‘lawfare’.
Allegations of Willis’ relationship with Wade first emerged in January.
Since then, Mills has actively sought to investigate the situation. Mills sent a letter to the Georgia State Bar General Counsel Paula Frederick requesting a review of the situation.
