WASHINGTON – Former US president Donald Trump and his eight co-defendants in the Georgia election interference case appealed judge Scott McAfee’s ruling which rejected their motion to remove Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis from the case, according to a court filing.
Earlier in March, the Superior Court of Fulton County in Georgia declined to remove Willis from the case, arguing that the allegations against her were legally insufficient.
At the same time, the court concluded that given all the circumstances of Willis’ romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, either the district attorney or Wade should leave the case.
On the same day, Wade announced his resignation and Willis accepted.
In the appeal, Trump and his co-defendants argued that the disqualification of Wade was not enough to move forward with the case.
“The trial court was bound by existing case law to not only require Wade’s disqualification (which occurred) but also to require the disqualification of DA Willis and her entire office.
“The trial court’s failure to do so is plain legal error requiring reversal,” the appeal reads.
The defendants believe that the nature of the Willis-Wade relationship “created an appearance of impropriety in this case that cast a pall over these entire proceedings”.
The appeal insists that the court “expressly found an appearance of impropriety existed” and that is why DA Willis and her entire office should be disqualified from this case.
In August 2023, a Fulton County grand jury indicted Trump on 13 felony counts related to his alleged attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to charges lodged by Willis in Georgia over the 2020 presidential election. – March 30, 2024