Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been instructed by Judge Scott McAfee to either recuse herself from the Georgia election interference case involving Donald Trump or remove the special prosecutor with whom she was previously romantically involved. The judge’s ruling on Friday cited concerns about an “appearance of impropriety” due to Willis’s past relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade.
Judge McAfee expressed apprehension that the romantic relationship between Willis and Wade could compromise the independence and impartiality of the prosecution team. He highlighted the possibility that outsiders might question whether the relationship had influenced the case’s handling or decision-making process.
Although McAfee acknowledged that there was insufficient evidence to suggest personal gain on Willis’s part, he emphasized the importance of upholding professional standards and avoiding any perception of bias in legal proceedings.
Despite the judge’s ruling, attorneys for Trump and some co-defendants had alleged that Willis benefited improperly from her relationship with Wade. They claimed that Willis paid Wade substantial sums for his services and subsequently benefited from the case when Wade used his earnings to finance vacations for them both.
Willis and Wade testified that their romantic involvement had ceased by the summer of 2023 and that there was no financial or personal conflict of interest affecting their professional duties.
The case in question involves a sprawling indictment accusing Trump and several other defendants of violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), alleging a “criminal enterprise” aimed at retaining power after Trump’s defeat in the 2020 election.
Trump, who is the presumptive presidential nominee for Republicans in 2024, has consistently denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Recently, Judge McAfee dismissed some of the charges against Trump, including counts related to soliciting public officers to violate their oaths. These charges stemmed from a phone call Trump made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, urging him to “find 11,780 votes” in Trump’s favor. Another dismissed count accused Trump of soliciting Georgia House Speaker David Ralston to violate his oath of office by convening a special legislative session to appoint presidential electors unlawfully.
McAfee’s decision to dismiss these counts was based on the lack of sufficient detail regarding the alleged violations.
