Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee has ruled District Attorney Fani Willis must abandon her case against former President Donald Trump unless special prosecutor Nathan Wade is removed.
District Attorney Willis had recently acknowledged her “personal relationship” with Prosecutor Wade, whom she hired in her prosecution of President Trump.
Willis hired Wade in November 2021 despite his 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.
Several hearings were subsequently held to determine whether a conflict of interest exists between Willis and Wade.
After reviewing the evidence, Judge McAfee’s ruling rejected Trump co-defendant's claims that a conflict of interest existed but noted that Willis and Wade must nonetheless cease collaborating.
Trump co-defendants “failed to meet their burden of proving that the District Attorney acquired an actual conflict of interest in this case,” reads the ruling.
Yet, McAfee explained “the established record now highlights a significant appearance of impropriety that infects the current structure of the prosecution team.”
Therefore, McAfee stated such appearance “must be removed.”
To this end, McAfee commanded either Willis or Wade recuse themselves from the case for it to proceed.
Willis has yet to respond to McAfee’s ruling.
Willis’ office had originally described Trump’s co-defendant's complaints as “ill-conceived” and based on “reckless accusations.”
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) 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.
