Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has appealed a lower court decision removing her from the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump and others. The appeal argues the lower court overstepped its authority in disqualifying Willis.
The Georgia Court of Appeals ruled last month that Willis's continued involvement in the case was inappropriate due to a romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade. This ruling cited an "appearance of impropriety." Willis's appeal maintains this decision deviates from established legal precedent.
Willis's filing with the Georgia Supreme Court asserts that disqualification should only occur in cases of actual conflict of interest or misconduct, not just perceived impropriety. The appeal argues the lower court inappropriately substituted its judgment for the trial court's.
While a Supreme Court ruling in Willis's favor doesn't guarantee her ability to prosecute Trump, should he take office again, it does potentially affect the prosecution of the other 14 defendants implicated. The case stems from a Georgia grand jury indictment in 2023, alleging a scheme to overturn the 2020 election results.
Importantly, this legal challenge comes amid multiple ongoing criminal cases against Donald Trump, including similar cases investigated at the federal level. These federal investigations saw Trump win the November election, which prompted the eventual withdrawal of those investigations.
