A state appeals court in Georgia has agreed to hear an appeal regarding a judge’s ruling allowing Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to continue prosecuting former President Donald Trump and 19 co-defendants. The decision, made by the Georgia Court of Appeals on Wednesday, responds to a motion filed by Trump’s attorneys seeking a review of Judge Scott McAfee’s decision in March, which permitted Willis to remain on the case as long as her subordinate and romantic partner, Nathan Wade, resigned. Wade ultimately resigned days later, prompting the appeal. Attorney Steve Sadow announced the court’s decision on X, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal battle.
“The GA Court of Appeals has GRANTED President Trump’s Application for Interlocutory Appeal from the trial court’s order refusing to disqualify Fulton County DA Fani Willis!!!” Sadow wrote, indicating Trump’s legal team’s satisfaction with the decision.
While the timeline for the appeals court to issue a ruling remains uncertain, Willis’s office is likely to push for an expedited process. However, Willis’s case alleging election interference by Trump and co-defendants has already faced setbacks due to revelations about her romantic relationship with Wade and has been sidelined amid a backlog of hearings in Trump’s other criminal cases. Legal experts have speculated that her case may struggle to recover from these challenges.
Simultaneously, Willis finds herself confronted by multiple investigations into her office’s handling of federal and state funds. Whistleblowers who spoke with the U.S. House Oversight Committee have alleged that she redirected funds intended for an anti-gang unit to support her Trump investigation, resulting in Wade receiving at least $700,000 for two years of work. At the state level, a special committee has been convened to question other county officials about Wade’s hiring.
Willis has responded defiantly to both probes, asserting her office’s commitment to prosecuting crimes while pushing back against what she perceives as politically motivated investigations. In March, she wrote to Oversight Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH), rejecting calls to halt her office’s efforts. Additionally, during a campaign event, she criticized Republican lawmakers for their interference in her case against Trump, highlighting what she saw as attempts to undermine her authority.
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