The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
Fulton County DA Fani Willis and ex-special prosecutor Nathan Wade
December 19, 2024 – ATLANTA, GA - the Georgia appellate court has removed Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) from her prosecution of President-elect Donald J. Trump (R).
Willis had been in a sexual relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade. Wade was the lead prosecutor in the Trump insurrection investigation. Wade resigned from the case when their illicit relationship was exposed.
Despite Wade's recusal from the case, the judicial panel in a 31 page decision disqualified Ms. Willis over the highly inappropriate relationship which they declared a "significant appearance of impropriety."
The court did not dismiss Trump's indictment; but the appellate court ruling leaves the viability of this prosecution very much in doubt. A parallel federal case against Trump for alleged election interference and insurrection related to his effort to appeal the results of his 2020 election has already been dismissed by federal special counsel Jack Smith.
The appellate decision overruled Judge Scott McAfee trial court ruling allowing Willis to remain as the prosecutor handling the case.
"After carefully considering the trial court's findings in its order, we conclude that it erred by failing to disqualify DA Willis and her office," the court wrote in its ruling. "The remedy crafted by the trial court to prevent an ongoing appearance of impropriety did nothing to address the appearance of impropriety that existed at times when DA Willis was exercising her broad pretrial discretion about who to prosecute and what charges to bring," it continued.
The judge in the mishandling of the classified documents case dismissed that case because she ruled that Jack Smith's appointment was illegal. Smith dropped his appeal of that ruling after the American people voted to return Trump to the White House. Smith has announced that he will resign prior to Trump's return on January 20.
New York City District Attorney Alvin Bragg has refused to dismiss his successful prosecution of Trump for allegedly paying off porn star Stormy Daniels from the wrong account. Trump's personal attorney mishandled the payment. Trump denies knowing anything about the alleged payment or ever having a tryst with the noted porn actress at a gold tournament. Trump's legal team is appealing that case as well as a civil verdict against Trump for fraud brought by the New York Attorney General's office.
Based on original reporting by The Hill and the Washington Post.
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