Key takeaways from Georgia judge’s ruling on Fani Willis’s role in Trump case
GuardianMar 15
Ruling: Fani Willis Can Remain Prosecutor as Wade Steps Down
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The Facts
Georgia Judge Scott McAfee ruled that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis could remain as the prosecutor in the Donald Trump election case so long as Nathan Wade — whom Willis had an interpersonal relationship with — stepped down as special prosecutor. Wade subsequently resigned on Friday.
McAfee ruled that the defense failed to prove Willis and Wade's relationship amounted to a "conflict of interest," but also found a "significant appearance of impropriety that infects the current structure of the prosecution team."
The Spin
Anti-Trump narrative
While Wade will have to step down, the real threat to Trump, and the district attorney who could one day take him down for election interference, will still be leading this trial. Judge McAfee's decision was based solely on the potential appearance of a conflict of interest, not actual corruption regarding the charges against Trump. All Willis has to do is remove her ex-boyfriend from the trial and she can continue her momentous case against the former president.
Pro-Trump narrative
Willis is fortunate to have only faced this ruling. Not only did she admit key context about their relationship — which likely shows they were dating before she paid him $650K — but McAfee found that she potentially lied and cast "racial aspersions" on a defendant. Every reason Willis chose to prosecute Trump was either selfish or politically motivated, but she still got away with barely a slap on the wrist.
Nerd narrative
There's a 52% chance that Donald Trump will be convicted of a felony before the 2024 presidential election, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
