‘Appearance of impropriety’: Trump RICO judge finds Fani Willis relationship with prosecutor means one of them has to go if case is to continue

Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee flanked by inset images of Donald Trump, on the left, and Fani Willis, on the right

Main image: Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee speaks in court, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, Pool); Inset left: FILE – Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks, March 9, 2024, in Rome, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File); Inset right: Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis looks on during a hearing on the Georgia election interference case, March, 1, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Alex Slitz, Pool)

A Georgia judge has partially granted a defense motion to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the racketeering (RICO) and election subversion case against Donald Trump and others.

“”[T]he Court finds that the Defendants failed to meet their burden of proving that the District Attorney acquired an actual conflict of interest in this case through her personal relationship and recurring travels with her lead prosecutor,” Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee wrote in the order, issued Friday morning. “[T]he established record now highlights a significant appearance of impropriety that infects the current structure of the prosecution team — an appearance that must be removed through the State’s selection of one of two options. The Defendants’ motions are therefore granted in part.”

McAfee denied “other alleged grounds for disqualification, including forensic misconduct.”

The ruling caps a three-month effort by the defense to have the district attorney and her office removed from the case over various misconduct allegations.

The court’s order will allow the case to move forward but the length of time spent dealing with the disqualification motion has been a substantial boon to the 45th president amid his multiple legal battles and the looming election rematch with President Joe Biden. A trial date in the matter is still possible but unlikely before November.

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