Former President Donald Trump achieved another legal victory on Wednesday in his efforts to slow down criminal proceedings against him. A Georgia appeals court has agreed to hear his request to disqualify the district attorney prosecuting him for alleged misconduct related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state. This decision extends the legal battle surrounding the relationship between Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and a former top deputy, which Trump's defense team has used to challenge the case.
This development follows a federal judge's decision in Florida, appointed by Trump, to indefinitely postpone his trial on charges of mishandling classified documents after leaving office.
Trump and eight of his co-defendants in the Georgia case have asked the appeals court to overturn a state judge's ruling that allowed Willis to continue leading the prosecution. This decision to hear the appeal before the trial could further delay the case, one of four criminal prosecutions Trump is facing as he runs for president again in 2024. Trump has maintained his innocence and accused prosecutors of targeting him for political reasons.
Steve Sadow, Trump's lead lawyer in the Georgia case, stated, "The case should be dismissed, and Fulton County DA Willis should be disqualified for her misconduct in this unjustified, unwarranted political persecution."
A spokesperson for Willis did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.
Trump and his co-defendants sought to disqualify Willis after revealing her romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, an outside lawyer she hired for the case. The defense argued that this relationship created a conflict of interest, as Wade took vacations with Willis while being paid by her office.
Trump's lawyer also claimed that Willis implied racial motivations on the part of the defendants and their lawyers, although both Willis and Wade are Black.
Willis and Wade have admitted to their relationship, stating that it began after Wade was hired and ended before charges were filed. Willis' office has denied any misconduct and stated that the relationship did not impact the case. Judge Scott McAfee ruled that while the relationship did not create a conflict of interest, it did give the appearance of impropriety. McAfee allowed Willis' office to continue with the case if Wade stepped down, which he agreed to do.
McAfee later permitted Trump and his co-defendants to appeal his decision before the trial.
Trump and his 14 co-defendants have pleaded not guilty to racketeering and other charges related to an alleged scheme to overturn his election loss in Georgia. Four others involved in the case have pleaded guilty in deals with prosecutors.
A trial date has not been set.