Donald Trump and eight co-defendants are urging a Georgia appeals court to disqualify District Attorney Fani Willis from prosecuting them in a case related to attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Their request stems from allegations of a romantic relationship between Willis and a former top deputy involved in the prosecution.
The appeal seeks to overturn a recent ruling by Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee, who allowed Willis to continue leading the case despite acknowledging the relationship between Willis and the deputy prosecutor.
McAfee criticized the relationship but rejected claims that it constituted a conflict of interest requiring Willis to step down.
Trump’s defense attorney, Steve Sadow, criticized McAfee’s decision, arguing that Willis and her office should be disqualified from prosecuting the case.
Another co-defendant’s lawyer, Christopher Anulewicz, echoed this sentiment, suggesting that failure to disqualify Willis could invalidate the trial proceedings.
The appeals court now has the task of deciding whether to take up the issue within 45 days. Meanwhile, McAfee has permitted Trump and the other defendants to pursue an immediate appeal while the case continues to move forward.
The ruling follows a contentious period for Willis, who faced scrutiny over potential benefits she might have received from the relationship with her former deputy.
Trump’s legal team accused Willis of bias and misleading the court regarding the timeline of the romantic involvement.
Willis defended her integrity, stating that the relationship had no bearing on the case and arguing against her disqualification.
She characterized the bid for disqualification as a distraction from the serious charges against Trump and his co-defendants related to election interference.
The outcome of the appeal could impact the trajectory of the case, potentially leading to a pause in proceedings as the appeals process unfolds. However, a trial date has not been set yet, leaving the legal battle ongoing.
