Fulton County Judge to Hold Evidentiary Hearing on Trump Co-Defendant’s Motion to Disqualify Prosecutor
In a surprising turn of events, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee has announced that he will be moving forward with an evidentiary hearing on Thursday to consider a motion filed by a Trump co-defendant. This motion seeks to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and her office from prosecuting the 2020 election interference case in Georgia. The co-defendant, Michael Roman, a former Republican National Committee staffer, alleges that Willis had an improper relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade. Furthermore, Roman claims that Willis paid Wade over $650,000 for his work and then received personal benefits from their relationship, including trips and cruises.
The decision by Judge McAfee to proceed with the evidentiary hearing demonstrates the seriousness of the allegations made by Roman. McAfee believes that there is a possibility that these allegations could result in disqualification and therefore an evidentiary hearing is necessary to establish the record on these core allegations. The issues at hand include determining whether a relationship between Willis and Wade did exist, whether it was romantic, when it formed, whether it continues, and if any personal benefits were conveyed as a result.
However, Judge McAfee also made it clear that certain arguments put forth by Roman’s attorney are not relevant to the case. For example, Wade’s alleged lack of experience in handling racketeering cases like the Trump case is deemed insignificant by McAfee. According to the judge, as long as a lawyer has a heartbeat and a bar card, their appointment is within the discretion of the District Attorney. Additionally, no violations of Fulton County case law code have been found thus far, which would be crucial in a motion to disqualify a prosecutor for a pending criminal case.
Anna Cross, an attorney representing the Fulton County District Attorney’s office, sought to quash motions for witness testimony, including Willis and Wade. Cross argued that the defense was presenting gossip rather than legal arguments and that the court should not condone such behavior. She also emphasized that the District Attorney’s office has argued in their brief that there is no basis for dismissing the indictment. Furthermore, Cross claimed that none of the witnesses subpoenaed have any relevant information to provide.
This development in the Trump election interference case comes after a grand jury in Fulton County indicted Trump and more than a dozen of his associates in August. The charges include election fraud, racketeering, and other offenses related to alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. So far, four out of the 19 individuals charged have pleaded guilty, including three lawyers involved in the attempt to thwart the election in Georgia. However, Trump and the remaining defendants have all pleaded not guilty.
The outcome of Thursday’s evidentiary hearing will undoubtedly have significant implications for the future of this high-profile case. The allegations made by Michael Roman against District Attorney Fani Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade have cast a shadow over the prosecution’s efforts. It remains to be seen whether these allegations will be proven true and whether they will have an impact on the outcome of this contentious legal battle. As the country watches with bated breath, all eyes will be on Judge McAfee’s courtroom as he presides over this crucial hearing.
