Willis Takes The Stand At Dramatic Disqualification Hearing

February 16, 2024
ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 15: Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis testifies during a hearing in the case of the State of Georgia v. Donald John Trump at the Fulton County Courthouse on February 15, 2024 in Atlan... ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 15: Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis testifies during a hearing in the case of the State of Georgia v. Donald John Trump at the Fulton County Courthouse on February 15, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. Judge Scott McAfee is hearing testimony as to whether Willis and Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade should be disqualified from the case for allegedly lying about a personal relationship. (Photo by Alyssa Pointer-Pool/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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February 16, 2024

Fulton County Superior Court held a hearing Thursday to address whether District Attorney Fani Willis should be removed from prosecuting the Donald Trump election interference RICO case.

Over a full day of dramatic testimony, Willis and prosecutor Nathan Wade both took the stand, facing questions from lawyers for Trump operative Mike Roman, for Trump himself, and for other defendants in the RICO case. The day concluded with two hours of questions in which Willis mounted a fiery rebuttal to the accusations about her and Wade’s relationship, repeatedly accusing Roman’s lawyer of lying.

Read through our coverage below.

Watch the hearing livestreamed from Judge McAfee's courtroom here.

Background:

  • The current imbroglio began after defendant Mike Roman accused Willis of engaging in an improper personal relationship with the outside attorney that her office hired to prosecute the Trump case. Roman played his hand as hard as he could in the filing, accusing the prosecutor — Nathan Wade — of being unqualified to serve, and of reaping improper financial benefits from the case and from Willis.
  • It's a sordid series of allegations aimed as much at tarnishing the prosecutors involved as at bringing the case away from its focus — accusations that Trump tried to steal the 2020 election in Georgia. Instead, we're now in an extended discussion of Willis' and Wade's personal lives. That being said, the pair admitted in a filing last week that they were romantically involved, but insisted that it only began after Wade was hired in November 2021 and that it does not mar the case.
  • Judge Scott McAfee said on Tuesday that he believes the allegations are serious enough to potentially disqualify Willis, though he excluded any discussion of whether Wade himself is qualified for the job for Thursday's hearing.
  • Thursday's hearing will focus on whether Willis benefitted financially from the relationship by charging romantic getaways back to the DA's office, among other accusations. Roman has continued to maintain that the relationship began long before Wade's hiring, and that it "tainted" the case.
  • The hearing may extend into Friday. 
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Fulton County Superior Court held a hearing Thursday to address whether District Attorney Fani Willis should be removed from prosecuting the Donald Trump election interference RICO case.

Over a full day of dramatic testimony, Willis and prosecutor Nathan Wade both took the stand, facing questions from lawyers for Trump operative Mike Roman, for Trump himself, and for other defendants in the RICO case. The day concluded with two hours of questions in which Willis mounted a fiery rebuttal to the accusations about her and Wade’s relationship, repeatedly accusing Roman’s lawyer of lying.

Read through our coverage below.

Notable Replies

  1. I’m nervous.

  2. What a mess.

  3. That all of these defendants could skate due to the alleged indiscretion of the DAs personal life isdisconcerting…legal rope a dope evident and on track in all of the Trump major criminal cases.

  4. Don’t boink the help.

  5. If Fani Willis is tossed overboard on this case, then Clarence Thomas should suffer a similar fate in all matters “Donnie!” FTS!!! Sheldon Whitehouse is right!!

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

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