A judge wrote that Willis had a « tremendous lapse in judgment, » but didn’t disqualify her from the case.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’s prosecution of Donald Trump will be allowed to move forward in Georgia — because her ex has resigned from the prosecution team.
The background: The high-stakes prosecution of Trump and several of his associates for trying to steal Georgia’s 2020 election has been sidetracked in recent months. Defendants had unearthed that Willis and attorney Nathan Wade had a romantic relationship, arguing this was an improper conflict of interest that should get Willis disqualified from the prosecution. A high-profile hearing was held last month in which Willis and Wade testified, denying any impropriety.
What’s new: Now, a ruling from Judge Scott McAfee Friday morning has rejected the attempt to disqualify Willis. Trump and his allies did not actually prove she had a conflict of interest, McAfee found.
But McAfee did have some harsh words for Willis, calling her relationship with Wade a “tremendous lapse in judgment,” her testimony last month “unprofessional,” and opining that “an odor of mendacity remains” about the situation. As a result, he said, either Wade or Willis has to leave the team. And, on Friday afternoon, Wade resigned.
What’s next: Now that Wade has stepped down, the prosecution could get moving again — with the catch that Trump and his co-defendants could appeal and try to get a higher Georgia court to disqualify Willis.
