Fani Willis, Donald Trump.Photo:Megan Varner for The Washington Post via Getty; James Devaney/GC
Megan Varner for The Washington Post via Getty; James Devaney/GC
District Attorney Fani Willis can remain the lead prosecutor inDonald Trump’s Georgia election subversion case, a judge decided on Friday.
In a surprising ruling, Fulton County JudgeScott McAfeedetermined that Willis can continue overseeing the case, after the trial was jeopardized based on allegations that she and the special prosecutor hired to lead the case engaged in an improper romantic relationship. Both Willis and the prosecutor acknowledged that they had a personal relationship, but denied wrongdoing.
There is one condition, however: In order to continue prosecuting Trump, she will need to remove her former romantic partner from the case. Her other option is to step aside, which would risk delaying the trial until after the November election.
McAfee’s decision is a huge blow to Trump, who hoped to throw a wrench in the state’s prosecution plan and potentially evade a judgment altogether.
On Wednesday, McAfeedismissed a few countsrelated to Trump and his allies' interactions with state officials, which brought Trump’s total number down to 10.
Donald Trump’s Fulton County mug shot.Fulton County Sheriff’s Office
Fulton County Sheriff’s Office
Eighteen allies were charged alongside Trump, including former White House chief of staffMark Meadows; former Trump attorneysRudy Giuliani,Sidney Powell,John Eastman,Jenna Ellis, Bob Cheeley, Ray Smith III and Kenneth Chesebro; former assistant U.S. attorney generalJeffrey Clark; former Georgia Republican Party Chairman David Shafer; and current Georgia state Sen. Shawn Still.
Additional defendants include a GOP strategist, local elections officials, an Atlanta bail bondsman,a publicist, an Illinois pastor and a onetime congressional candidate.
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The Georgia case was Trump’s fourth indictment since leaving office. Between the four investigations, he faces88 criminal counts, several of which come with recommended prison time.
If convicted of violating the Georgia RICO Act — classified a step above felony, as a “serious felony” — Trump would face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years.
source: people.com
