District Attorney Fani Willis holds a press conference at the Fulton County Government Center after a grand jury voted to indict former President Donald Trump and 18 others on August 14, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Christian Monterrosa | AFP | Getty Images
Former President Donald Trump and eight other defendants were charged with attempting to commit a tort. Interfering in the 2020 Georgia Election filed a formal petition Friday to appeal a judge’s ruling allowing Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to proceed with the case.
Trump and the other defendants had tried to get Willis and her office to drop the case because of his romantic relationship with her. Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade A conflict of interest has arisen. Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee ruled earlier this month that there was no significant conflict of interest to exclude Willis from the case, but said the prosecution was “hampered by aspects of fraud.”
McAfee’s The ruling said Willis may continue to prosecute. If Wade leaves the case and the special prosecutor resigns hours later.Attorneys for Trump and other defendants at the time requested that McAfee be allowed to appeal. his judgment for the Georgia Court of Appeals; he granted the request.
An application to the Court of Appeal is the next step in that process. The appeals court will decide whether to take up the issue within 45 days.
The case was turned upside down for several weeks by allegations that Willis had unfairly profited from her romance with Wade. Here are the intimate details of Willis and Wade’s personal life. It was aired in court in mid-February.cover up serious allegations in any of the following: Four criminal cases against former Republican president. Trump and 18 others were indicted in August on charges that they illegally participated in a broader scheme to illegally overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, which he narrowly lost to Democrat Joe Biden in Georgia. Ta.
The appellate statement says McAfee erred in not disbarring both Willis and Wade from the case, saying, “Giving prosecutor Willis the option of simply removing Wade confuses logic and violates Georgia law.” It is contrary to this.”
Trump’s lead attorney in the case, Steve Sadow, said in a statement that the case should have been dismissed and “at a minimum” Willis should have been disqualified from continuing to prosecute. He said the Court of Appeal should grant the application and consider the merits of the appeal.
A spokeswoman for Mr. Willis declined to comment.
Willis used Georgia’s Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Acta sweeping anti-hunting bill charging Trump and 18 others. Four people charged in the case have pleaded guilty. After reaching an agreement with prosecutors. Trump and others maintain their innocence.
McAfee clearly found that Willis’ relationship with Wade and his employment as lead prosecutor on this case created an unwarranted impression, and that he did not disqualify Willis and her entire firm from this case. “This is a clear legal error that requires reversal,” the attorneys wrote. In their application.
Given the complexity of the case and the number of defendants, multiple trials will likely be necessary, according to the filing. If we don’t disqualify Mr. Willis now, we risk having to overturn any verdict and going through “this painful, divisive and costly process” multiple times. “is neither wise nor efficient,” the magazine said.
In his ruling, McAfee cited a lack of appellate guidance on the issue of disqualifying prosecutors for forensic misconduct, and lawyers said the appellate court should intervene to establish such a precedent. claims.
Finally, the defense attorneys argued that in order to maintain public confidence in the integrity of the judicial system, it is important that prosecutors “continue to appear disinterested and impartial.”
