Former President Donald Trump continued his fight against prosecution in Georgia this week. His team uncovered a new ally in his defense against election interference charges.
Other defendants, some who have pleaded guilty with limited sentencing, are likely keeping a close eye on how Trump’s defense plays out. During a hearing Monday Judge Scott McAfee embraced new revelations about allegations toward Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. She is alleged to have a conflict of interest in the case based on her personal relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade.
Willis requested that the judge quash any attempts to hold hearings on the allegations and asked him to deny subpoenas related to the allegations. The answer from the judge didn’t sit well with the prosecutor.
From the Daily Caller:
“The state has admitted a relationship existed,” McAfee said. “[W]hat remains to be proven is the existence and extent of any financial benefit, again, if there even was one. So because I think it’s possible that the facts alleged by the defendant could result in disqualification, I think an evidentiary hearing must occur to establish the record on those core allegations.”
The conflict of interest allegations came from Trump co-defendant Michael Roman. Roman filed a motion last month claiming Willis benefited from appointing her romantic partner, Wade, to lead the prosecution against Trump. Roman alleges that Wade used funds gained from his “lucrative” contract to whisk Willis away on vacations.
Roman’s claims against Willis included new revelations regarding the conflict of interest claim. Two more trips that were previously undisclosed included a Bahamas cruise the pair took in December 2022 and a trip to Belize in March 2023.
Roman also claimed that gifts from Wade to Willis totaled thousands of dollars. Some of the expenses were discovered in Wade’s recent divorce case where bank statements revealed he purchased airline tickets to Miami and San Francisco in Willis’ name.
Judge McAfee stated in the latest hearing that the issues in question are whether a relationship existed between Willis and Wade, whether that relationship was romantic or not, when it started, and whether it is ongoing. These questions are relevant, he said, to determine if the “existence and extent of any personal benefit.”
McAfee said evidence presented by Roman requires holding the hearing scheduled for Thursday to determine if Willis should be disqualified from the case.
Key Takeaways:
- The judge in the Trump Georgia case said it’s “possible” the prosecutor could be disqualified.
- District Attorney Fani Willis could see her election interference upended after Thursday.
- The judge ruled in favor of a hearing regarding her “personal benefit” related to the case.
Source: Daily Caller
