The decision by the Georgia Court of Appeals to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from an election interference case involving President-elect Donald Trump “puts an end to a politically motivated persecution of the next President of the United States,” Trump’s lead attorney on the case said.
The court said in a 2-1 decision on Thursday that “no other remedy will suffice to restore public confidence in the integrity of these proceedings.” Willis had a romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, the man she appointed as lead prosecutor on the case.
A Fulton County judge ruled that Willis could continue on the case as long as Wade stepped down, which he did. The appeals court reversed that ruling but did not dismiss the indictment.
“The Georgia Court of Appeals in a well-reasoned and just decision has held that DA Fani Willis’ misconduct in the case against President Trump requires the disqualification of Willis and her office,” Steve Sadow, Trump’s lead attorney, said in a text message to The Center Square. “The court highlighted that Willis’ misconduct created an ‘odor of mendacity’ and an appearance of impropriety that could only be cured by the disqualification of her and her entire office. As the court rightfully noted, only the remedy of disqualification will suffice to restore public confidence.”
The Center Square was unsuccessful getting comment from Willis’ office before publication.
Trump and others are accused of trying to overturn the 2020 election, which he lost to Joe Biden. Michael Roman, one of the co-defendants in the case, discovered the romantic relationship between Willis and Wade.
Willis was first elected as district attorney in 2020. She was reelected in November defeating Republican Courtney Kramer after having staved off a challenge in the Democratic primary from Christian Wise Smith.
