Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been disqualified from prosecuting the case against Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants, accused of attempting to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results. The disqualification stems from her romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, the lead prosecutor she appointed, creating an “appearance of impropriety.” Willis is currently appealing her removal to the Georgia Supreme Court, arguing no actual conflict of interest occurred.
Meanwhile, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 244, which mandates state reimbursement of legal fees if a prosecutor is disqualified for misconduct and charges are dismissed. Though Trump’s legal team views this as a key accountability measure, he’s not eligible for reimbursement yet, as the case remains active.
Additionally, Willis has been ordered to pay over $54,000 for violating Georgia’s Open Records Act, failing to provide documents to defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant. These developments mark significant setbacks for Willis, as courts cite both ethical concerns and poor transparency in handling the high-profile case involving Trump and others.