Fulton County DA can remain on Trump case ending tumultuous week for former president

NEW YORK (Gray Media) - In a blow to Donald Trump, a Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee is allowing the Democratic District Attorney Fani Willis to remain on a racketeering case targeting Donald Trump and more than a dozen co-defendants. Friday’s ruling comes after a potential conflict of interest came into question over a personal relationship between Willis and the special prosecutor she hired, Nathan Wade.

Trump’s legal team tried to paint a picture of impropriety in questioning Willis, Wade and other witnesses, hoping to show Willis benefited financially from the relationship. The Trump team’s ultimate goal is to have the case thrown out, or at least delayed until after November’s general election.

While McAfee found insufficient evidence to support a finding that there is a conflict of interest, the judge said there is an appearance of impropriety and to instill trust in the process one of Willis or Wade must step aside. After McAfee’s ruling, Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade resigned from the Georgia election interference case Friday afternoon.

Trump’s legal team responded, repeating their promise to continue fighting, saying in part, “While respecting the Court’s decision, we believe that the Court did not afford appropriate significance to the prosecutorial misconduct of Willis and Wade.”

The ruling comes after Trump received positive news earlier this week when McAfee tossed out three of the 13 criminal counts he faces in Georgia. Thursday in Florida, a judge refused one of Trump’s motions to dismiss the case surrounding his alleged mishandling of classified documents, but left the door open for him to bring the motion again.

In more positive legal news for Trump, prosecutors in New York are seeking a delay in the trial surrounding alleged hush money payments the former president sent to the porn star Stormy Daniels in an effort to suppress potentially damaging information. The judge in that case is yet to rule on a possible delay.

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