Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is facing calls to recuse herself from her election interference case against former President Donald Trump due to the appearance of a conflict of interest.
During a segment of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” Friday, former federal prosecutor Andrew Weissman addressed Judge Scott McAfee’s ruling that Willis can stay on the case if special counsel Nathan Wade leaves, and suggested she needs to recuse herself.
“The key is how to go forward, because clearly Wade is off, but I think that this is such a huge body blow, almost a fatal blow to Fani Willis,” Weissman said.
He added, “I think the way forward is she has to voluntarily recuse herself. I don’t know that she has it in her, but I think she has to say I’m going to appoint a chief assistant who is going to oversee this case. She clearly has no credibility with this judge.”
Watch the video below:
"This is such a huge body blow, almost a fatal blow, to Fani Willis. I think she has to voluntarily recuse herself…So that whatever happens to her in terms of ethics, it doesn't taint this case."
— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) March 15, 2024
— @AWeissmann_ reacts to Judge ruling Willis can remain on Trump Georgia case pic.twitter.com/rYgFBPWpXG
Finally, Weissman argued if Willis’ “first interest” is this case than she should recuse herself “so that whatever happens to her in terms of ethics, it doesn’t taint this case.”
The ruling comes after Ashleigh Merchant, attorney for Trump co-defendant Mike Roman, alleged Willis had a conflict of interest in her relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade.
“Citing financial statements turned up in Wade’s divorce proceeding, Merchant claimed Willis financially benefited when Wade took her on lavish vacations after she hired him as special prosecutor in late 2021 as the investigation into Trump and his allies was heating up. Willis denied there was anything improper about their relationship,” CNN explains.
On Friday, McAfee ruled Willis can continue to prosecute the case — however, there was a requirement.
As the Atlanta Journal-Constitution points out, “Willis must either step aside or cut ties with her special prosecutor before the election interference case against Donald Trump can move forward, a judge ruled Friday.”
McAfee also ripped into Willis for her “tremendous lapse in judgment” and “unprofessional” behavior during the hearing over whether she should be disqualified.
