Lawyers for President Trump and two co-defendants have filed new motions with the Georgia Court of Appeals to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the election interference case, citing alleged misconduct. The appeal argues that Willis lied under oath about a romantic relationship with her special prosecutor, Nathan Wade, and engaged in unethical behavior.
The initial round of briefs filed this week accuses Willis of having an improper relationship with Wade and delivering a prejudicial speech at a historic Black church. Trump’s legal team contends that Willis’s actions have compromised the integrity of the case. “Willis, by persistently untethering herself from the legal, ethical and professional constraints of her powerful position, has decimated the integrity of these proceedings,” the brief states. “Sadly, the circumstances that require her disqualification are entirely self-inflicted wounds that were within her power to avoid. DA Willis disqualified herself.”
The motion also alleges that Willis falsely testified and misled the court about when her relationship with Wade began, using racially charged language to defend him. It claims Willis concealed the true nature of their relationship and that her actions warrant disqualification. Willis has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that her relationship with Wade began after his hiring. Her office has requested the Georgia Court of Appeals to dismiss the appeal and will file a response soon.
Trump's lead attorney, Steve Sadow, expressed confidence in their argument, stating, “The brief persuasively argues that Willis should be dismissed for misconduct and the appearance of impropriety between her and former special assistant DA Wade, who was her lover and taxpayer-funded financial benefactor.”
A three-judge panel from the Georgia Court of Appeals is now reviewing whether Willis should be removed from the case involving Trump and 14 co-defendants accused of attempting to ‘overturn’ Georgia’s 2020 election ‘results.’ The allegations originated in January from Mike Roman, a former Trump campaign official, who claimed Willis financially benefited from her relationship with Wade, citing over $700,000 in legal fees and joint expenses on trips.
Willis and Wade testified that Willis reimbursed Wade for her share of vacation costs in cash. Fulton Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee found no disqualifying conflict of interest but acknowledged the appearance of one, leading to Wade's resignation while allowing Willis to remain on the case. The issue has delayed the election interference case, pushing any trial beyond the November election.
Attorneys for co-defendant Bob Cheeley argued that the court's decision would not suffice. “This Solomonic choice… did not cure the underlying problem,” the brief stated.” Cheeley’s brief criticized Willis's cash reimbursement claim as “fantastic” and noted the absence of bank records to support her testimony.
David Shafer’s legal team also condemned Willis and Wade’s behavior, alleging perjury at the disqualification hearing and criticizing Willis's MLK weekend speech. Shafer's filing argued that the national media attention surrounding the case should not be allowed to affect the disqualification analysis or defendants' due process rights, asserting that McAfee's failure to disqualify Willis has emboldened her to unfairly influence public opinion and potential jurors.
