Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee says he will proceed with an evidentiary hearing on Thursday to prosecute Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, Trump’s co-defendant, and her office in the 2020 election interference case in Georgia. A proposal to disqualify and remove all from running will be considered. The allegations against him.
Former Republican National Committee staffer Michael Roman alleged that Willis had… inappropriate relationship with special prosecutor nathan brought downPaid her more than $650,000 for her work at the DA’s office and then benefited financially from the relationship when Wade allegedly took her on cruises and trips.
Judge Scott McAfee, who is presiding over the Trump election interference case, declined to rescind subpoenas for Willis, Wade and other witnesses to testify on Thursday, but it is unclear whether they will be made to testify. McAfee said he would postpone that decision until he could “examine the hearing in depth” on Thursday.
Judge McAfee said there should be an evidentiary hearing because it is “possible that the facts alleged could result in disqualification” and “an evidentiary hearing should be held to establish the record on those core allegations.”
He listed the issues as: whether a relationship existed, whether it was romantic, when it formed, whether it continued and whether there was any personal benefit as a result of the relationship.
But he also said some of the arguments made by Roman’s attorneys are not relevant, such as Wade’s alleged lack of experience in handling racketeering cases like the Trump case.
“As long as an attorney has a heartbeat and a bar card,” McAfee said, “appointment of an attorney is within the discretion of the DA.”
Nor have they found any violations of the Fulton County Case Law Code that would be relevant to a motion to disqualify a prosecutor from a pending criminal case.
Anna Cross, an attorney for the Fulton County DA, sought to rescind the pleas for testimony from witnesses including Willis and Wade, arguing that the defense is “not bringing the law for you,” that it is “bringing gossip for you.” Has been,” and the court should not condone it. it. He said the DA’s office argued in its brief last week that there are no grounds to dismiss the indictment. And he said that of all the witnesses summoned, none of them had relevant information.
In August, a grand jury in Fulton County indicted Trump and more than a dozen of his associates on election fraud, racketeering and other charges related to alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. As yet, Four of the 19 accused have confessed to their crime.That includes three lawyers involved in an effort to subvert the election in Georgia. Trump and the remaining defendants have pleaded innocent.
