In a significant legal development, the Georgia Supreme Court has opted not to review an appeal from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, effectively barring her from any future involvement in her 2020 racketeering and election interference case against President Donald Trump.
This decision, reached by a narrow 4-3 vote, upholds a prior ruling by the Georgia Court of Appeals. The appellate court had determined that Willis's continued prosecution of the case was untenable due to the "significant appearance of impropriety" stemming from her romantic involvement with Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor she appointed to lead the case against Trump.
As reported by The Washington Free Beacon, Willis's relationship with Wade, who was compensated with over $650,000 in taxpayer money, raised ethical concerns. The funds were reportedly used to finance extravagant vacations for the couple.
Trump attorney Steven Sadow expressed approval of the court's decision, stating, "The Georgia supreme court has correctly denied review of the Georgia court of appeals decision disqualifying DA Fani Willis and her office as prosecutors in the Fulton County RICO case." He further criticized Willis's conduct, describing it as "egregious" and asserting that her disqualification was warranted.
President Trump himself welcomed the ruling, characterizing it as a "great decision." He went on to condemn Willis's actions, stating, "What Fani Willis did to innocent people, patriots that love our country, what she did to them by indicting them and destroying them, she should be put in jail."
This ruling marks another setback for Willis, who recently secured a second term in office. Her high-profile racketeering and murder case against rapper Young Thug, which became the longest criminal prosecution in Georgia's history, concluded in October 2024 with minimal resultstime served and 15 years of probation for the rapper.
Additionally, Willis has faced allegations of retaliatory actions against a whistleblower in her office who accused senior staff of misusing federal grant funds.
With Willis now removed from the case, the responsibility for its future lies with the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia. This nonpartisan state agency is tasked with appointing a new prosecutor to either continue or dismiss the case.
However, as Peter Skandalakis, the council's executive director, noted in December, finding a suitable replacement "wont be an easy lift."
The complexity of the case, described as a "monstrosity" by Phil Holloway, a former assistant district attorney in Georgia, presents a formidable challenge. Holloway, speaking to The Washington Free Beacon, emphasized that any successor would need to "redo everything [Willis] did and try to fix the problems that she created."
He expressed skepticism about the council's ability to find another district attorney willing to take on the case, predicting that the council "is not going to be able to find another DA" to assume the responsibility.
As the legal proceedings continue to unfold, the outcome of this case remains uncertain, with the potential for significant implications for President Trump and the broader political landscape.
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