Fulton County DA Fani Willis has been removed from the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump. EEW Magazine Online has details.

Written By Pamela Harrington, Paul Pierce // EEW Magazine Online

Atlanta (EEW Newswire) Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis was removed from the Georgia election interference case involving Donald Trump and others after a state appeals court ruled Thursday that her romantic relationship with a special prosecutor created an “appearance of impropriety,” undermining public confidence in the proceedings.

Romantic Relationship Raises Concerns

Wade resigned in March after an Atlanta judge ruled that either he or Willis needed to step aside. Both publicly stated that their relationship began in 2022, after Wade was hired in late 2021. However, witnesses disputed their timeline, and questions arose about Wade’s financial decisions, including allegations that he spent over $654,000—earned as part of his role—on lavish gifts and vacations with Willis. The pair reportedly traveled together to Miami and North Carolina, with Willis claiming they alternated covering expenses.

Wade’s split from his wife of 26 years on the same day his appointment as special prosecutor was announced further fueled speculation about the nature and timing of their relationship.

Court Cites Improper Public Comments

In addition to the relationship, Willis faced scrutiny for public comments about the case that defense attorneys argued could prejudice potential jurors. In June 2024, Willis delivered a speech at a historically Black church outside Atlanta, during which she publicly addressed criticism of her handling of the Trump investigation. She defended her qualifications and integrity, telling the congregation that “the devil is a liar” and calling out critics she described as “haters” who questioned her motives and abilities.

“I live the experience of a Black woman who is attacked and oversexualized,” she said in her fiery comments, according to a Politico report. “See, I’m so tired of hearing these idiots call my name as ‘fanny’ in a way to attempt to humiliate me because, like silly school boys, the name reminds them of a woman’s rear, of her behind.”

While Willis did not specifically name Trump or his legal team, defense attorneys argued that her comments could be interpreted as inflammatory and dismissive of the concerns raised about her impartiality. They contended that such statements risked biasing potential jurors against the defendants and their legal representatives, further complicating the fairness of the proceedings.

Steve Sadow, Trump’s lead attorney, welcomed the ruling, describing it as “well-reasoned and just.” He claimed the decision “puts an end to a politically motivated persecution of the next President of the United States.” Trump, who is preparing to assume the presidency after his 2024 election victory, also praised the court’s decision, telling Fox News Digital that the case “should not be allowed to go any further.”

Legal and Political Ramifications

The appeals court decision is the latest in a series of legal victories for Trump, who has seen federal prosecutions dropped and other cases stalled. However, the ruling does not affect the 14 other defendants charged in the case, four of whom have already entered plea agreements.

A grand jury indicted Trump and 18 others in August 2023 under Georgia’s anti-racketeering statute, alleging a scheme to overturn his narrow 2020 election loss in the state. Trump and others unsuccessfully sought to have Willis and her office removed from the case, arguing that her conduct created a conflict of interest.

Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee initially ruled in March that no conflict existed requiring Willis’s removal, allowing her to remain on the case if Wade resigned. Wade stepped down within hours of the ruling.

Future of the Case

If Willis does not appeal the decision to the Georgia Supreme Court, the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council will need to assign a new prosecutor. This could prove challenging given the case’s complexity and resource demands. The new prosecutor could choose to proceed with the existing charges, pursue a narrower case, or dismiss the charges entirely.

Judge Trenton Brown, writing for the appeals court majority, noted that Willis’s removal was necessary to address concerns stemming from her broad pretrial discretion, including decisions on whom to prosecute and what charges to bring. Judge Benjamin Land dissented, arguing that the trial court’s remedy—requiring Wade to step aside—was sufficient and should not have been overturned.

Representatives for Willis did not respond to requests for comment.

The case remains in limbo, as Trump and his co-defendants await clarity on whether a new prosecutor will pursue the charges initially brought by Willis.

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EEW Magazine Online writers Pamela Harrington in Georgia, Paul Pierce in Washington, Eric Tucker in Washington and Jill Colvin in New York contributed to this report.

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