Trump Appeals Decision Not to Disqualify DA Fani Willis

Former President Donald Trump has filed an appeal against the decision not to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, in the Georgia Court of Appeals on June 24. The district attorney has 20 days to file a response.

“The trial court failed to accurately apply the forensic misconduct standard and thereby abused its discretion,” reads the 64-page appeal brief made public by the former president’s attorney, Steve Sadow, who argues that the trial court erred in several ways. Eight co-defendants joined the appeal.
Last August, former President Trump and 18 others were charged under Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act in a 41-count indictment, for their actions in challenging the 2020 election results. Four have since accepted plea bargains.

In January, codefendant Michael Roman, a former GOP strategist, filed a motion to disqualify Ms. Willis based on an affair she had with the outside attorney she hired to lead the case and on alleged financial misconduct. Other defendants joined, alleging prejudicial statements that rose to the level of prosecutorial misconduct.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee ruled that while there was an appearance of impropriety, there was no actual conflict of interest. As a remedy, the judge determined that Ms. Willis’s disqualification was not required if special prosecutor Nathan Wade was removed from the case, and Mr. Wade resigned the same day.

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