Fulton County District Attorney Fani willis is facing calls to recuse herself from her election interference case against former President Donald Trump due to the appearance of a conflict of interest.
During a segment of MSNBCâs âMorning Joeâ Friday, former federal prosecutor Andrew Weissman addressed Judge Scott McAfeeâs ruling that Willis can stay on the case if special counsel Nathan Wade leaves, and suggested she needs to recuse herself.
âThe key is how to go forward, because clearly Wade is off, but I think that this is such a huge body blow, almost a fatal blow to Fani willis,â Weissman said.
He added, âI think the way forward is she has to voluntarily recuse herself. I donât know that she has it in her, but I think she has to say Iâm going to appoint a chief assistant who is going to oversee this case. She clearly has no credibility with this judge.â
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Finally, Weissman argued if Willisâ âfirst interestâ is this case than she should recuse herself âso that whatever happens to her in terms of ethics, it doesnât taint this case.â
The ruling comes after Ashleigh Merchant, attorney for Trump co-defendant Mike Roman, alleged Willis had a conflict of interest in her relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade.
âCiting financial statements turned up in Wadeâs divorce proceeding, Merchant claimed Willis financially benefited when Wade took her on lavish vacations after she hired him as special prosecutor in late 2021 as the investigation into Trump and his allies was heating up. Willis denied there was anything improper about their relationship,â CNN explains.
On Friday, McAfee ruled Willis can continue to prosecute the case â however, there was a requirement.
As the Atlanta Journal-Constitution points out, âWillis must either step aside or cut ties with her special prosecutor before the election interference case against Donald Trump can move forward, a judge ruled Friday.â
McAfee also ripped into Willis for her âtremendous lapse in judgmentâ and âunprofessionalâ behavior during the hearing over whether she should be disqualified.
