Georgia Appeals Court Disqualifies Fani Willis from Prosecuting Trump in Election Interference Case

A Georgia state court of appeals has ruled that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis must be disqualified from prosecuting former President Donald Trump over his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. The court's 2-1 decision on Thursday cited concerns over Willis's relationship with Nathan Wade, her top deputy on the case, which led to a perceived conflict of interest.

The court found that the trial judge's previous ruling, which allowed Willis to continue the case with the condition that Wade resign from his position, was insufficient to restore public confidence in the integrity of the proceedings. Judge Trenton Brown, writing the opinion, stated that the appearance of impropriety, created by Willis's relationship with Wade, warranted her removal from the case. “While we recognize that an appearance of impropriety is generally not enough to support disqualification, this is the rare case in which disqualification is mandated,” Brown wrote.

This ruling is a significant setback for the prosecution, as it casts doubt on the continuation of the case, which was the final criminal action still active against Trump. The case centers on Trump and more than a dozen associates being charged with racketeering related to their efforts to influence the 2020 election results. The disqualification ruling comes after Trump and his co-defendants argued that Willis's personal relationship with Wade constituted a conflict of interest.

While the Fulton County Superior Court had initially rejected the defense's request to disqualify Willis, it acknowledged the appearance of a conflict and required Wade to step down. Wade resigned shortly after the judge's order. Despite this, Willis maintained that there was no actual conflict of interest, testifying that her relationship with Wade began months after he was hired for the Trump case and ended in mid-2023, around the time the grand jury indicted Trump.

The ruling could have broader implications for the ongoing prosecution of Trump. Following the court's decision, the District Attorney's office indicated it would appeal the disqualification to the Georgia Supreme Court. However, with Trump potentially resuming his presidency, the case may be paused indefinitely, as legal proceedings involving a sitting president are typically delayed until after their term.

The controversy surrounding Willis's relationship with Wade was initially raised by Michael Roman's defense lawyer, who accused the couple of a potential conflict of interest and “self-dealing,” alleging that the money Wade earned from the Trump case had been used to finance personal vacations. Willis vehemently denied these allegations, asserting that any expenses Wade incurred were reimbursed by her, and she further rejected claims of any improper influence on the case.