Last summer, charges brought against former President Donald Trump in Georgia resulted in his now infamous mugshot. Now, allegations against the Fulton County District Attorney threaten to derail the case.
DA Fani Willis has been accused of engaging in an improper romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, who she hired to serve as special prosecutor in the case against Trump. It was his fourth indictment of 2023, alleging that he attempted to overturn 2020 presidential election results in Georgia.
A hearing in Willis’ disqualification case continued this week. Judge Scott McAfee is presiding over the case.
“If Trump and his co-defendants succeed in disqualifying Willis, some insiders say the district attorney’s office fears it could derail the entire case, according to sources,” CNN reported. “The case still has no trial date.”
Earlier this month, defense attorney and former federal prosecutor David Katz joined Audacy station KNX to explain how the case was going. He said it could be “devastating” for the case overall.
“They had two witnesses who basically said that there was financial profiting from it and that the relationship actually started before the special prosecutor was picked for this lucrative, job,” said Katz. “It pays $250 an hour, and the special prosecutors made over $700,000. So, of course, Trump and his co-defendants are arguing that that does give them a financial motive.”
Whether or not McAfee will agree with the Trump came is a close call, he added. If he does, Willis’ entire office could be disqualified, and the case would be delayed.
“That would be a great deal of delay,” Katz said.
Even if she isn’t disqualified, the allegations alone could result in delay, according to Katz and other experts cited by USA Today. Per that outlet, legal experts have said it is unlikely that the DA will be disqualified.
“You wonder if this is the perfect foil that Trump would like to have,” Katz mused. “He can make this a metaphor, right, for all of the problems that he has. Look at this prosecutor. She’s corrupt, she and her boyfriend are after him, blah, blah, blah. That’s what he’s going to say.”
Trump has already used the case to his advantage by selling merchandise with his mugshot on it and using the mugshot as a fundraising tool. Katz noted that some commentators have said Willis should have resigned.
“I mean, it does not help her prosecution of Trump,” he said. It doesn’t help the optics. And of course, the case shouldn’t be about her. It shouldn't be about her boyfriend. It shouldn't be about when they started dating. It shouldn’t be about whether she got these lavish trips and reimbursed them with cash or not. It should be about Trump. It should be about the 2020 election.”
USA Today said the disqualification hearing could push back the case against Trump to right before or right after election day. Trump still faces other legal battles, though another case regarding the 2020 election was postponed earlier this month.