Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis will not be disqualified from prosecuting her election interference case against former President Donald Trump.
On Friday, Judge Scott McAfee ruled Willis can continue to prosecute the case — however, there was a requirement.
As the Atlanta Journal-Constitution points out, “Willis 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.”
AJC reports: "Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis 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."https://t.co/prdWlMJvyl
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) March 15, 2024
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.
“Citing financial statements turned up in Wade’s 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,” CNN explains.
In his ruling, McAfee stated, “The Court finds that the evidence did not establish the District Attorney’s receipt of material financial benefit as a result of her decision to hire and engage in a romantic relationship with Wade.”
BREAKING: Judge McAFEE has *rejected* a motion to disqualiy Fani WIllis, saying Trump et al failed to prove an *actual* conflict of interest.
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) March 15, 2024
Rather, he said either WIllis or Wade can step down from the probe to eliminate thhe *appearance* of a conflict. https://t.co/21usblJdm0 pic.twitter.com/tavPwWoYPC
Still, he criticized Willis for displaying a “tremendous lapse in judgment” in the matter.
