Prosecutor Fani Willis was hoping to avoid a hearing on Thursday over the bid to disqualify her from the 2020 election interference case in Georgia. That evidentiary hearing will apparently go forward, though it won’t necessarily result in the Fulton County district attorney and her office being kicked off the case. It depends on how the proceeding unfolds.
The prospect of disqualification arose when Donald Trump co-defendant Mike Roman alleged improprieties stemming from Willis’ alleged romantic involvement with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, who was hired by her office for the historic case. Given that dramatic backdrop, it’s possible to miss what the actual issues are that could upend the prosecution. On Monday, at a hearing over subpoenas and who might have to testify at the evidentiary hearing, Judge Scott McAfee gave some insight into the relevant inquiry.
The judge, who’s presiding over Trump’s criminal case in Georgia, said the questions to be resolved include whether a relationship between Willis and Wade existed, whether it was romantic and whether it continues. Importantly, it’s not just the question of the relationship itself but the extent of any financial benefit gained due to the relationship. McAfee said the facts alleged by Roman could result in disqualification; that doesn’t mean he’s going to rule against Willis and her office, but an evidentiary hearing is needed to resolve disputed issues.
In a recent written response that Willis had hoped would lead the judge to dismiss the allegations without needing a hearing, Wade filed an affidavit stating that the two didn’t have a personal relationship before he was hired but that they did afterward. Roman’s defense lawyer has said she has information contesting the state’s portrayal, so Thursday’s hearing — which could stretch into Friday — may shed more light on the specifics of the relationship and, crucially, the extent to which it might have netted an improper financial…
Read the full article here
