Fani Willis appeals disqualification from Trump's election interference case

Source: Axios

3 hours ago


Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has asked the Georgia Supreme Court to reverse her disqualification in the election interference case against President-elect Trump, according to a court filing.

Why it matters: Willis' disqualification from the case over a conflict of interest was seen as a major win for Trump, and a blow to the last effort to prosecute him for his allegedly trying to overturn the 2020 election results.

"No Georgia court has ever disqualified a district attorney for the mere appearance of impropriety without the existence of an actual conflict of interest," Willis' appeal stated.

Catch up quick: The Georgia Court of Appeals ruled in December to disqualify Willis over a conflict of interest stemming from a romantic relationship she had with the lead prosecutor on the case, whom she hired.

Trump's legal team has repeatedly accused her of impropriety and cast the indictment against him as tainted because of the relationship, which Willis publicly acknowledged.

The trial judge overseeing the case previously allowed Willis to stay on it as long as the prosecutor, Nathan Wade, stepped aside.

Flashback: Trump and 18 co-defendants were indicted in August 2023 under Georgia's RICO law, which is typically used to prosecute organized crime.

Read more: https://www.axios.com/2025/01/09/fani-willis-trump-disqualification-georgia-supreme-court