In a two-day hearing, Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee refrains from an immediate ruling on whether the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office should be disqualified from prosecuting Donald Trump and associates. The judge plans to reconvene with both sides for arguments on the evidence in the coming weeks, as Trump’s defense seeks to disqualify District Attorney Fani Willis.
Willis faces allegations of a conflict of interest due to her romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, hired by Willis for the case. Defense lawyers claim Wade used case-related income for extravagant trips with Willis. Both deny any wrongdoing, with the hearing featuring their testimony challenging conflict or impropriety claims.
Former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes testified to demonstrate that Willis considered multiple candidates for the special prosecutor role before selecting Wade. However, a key defense witness, Terrence Bradley, Wade’s former law partner, faced closed-door questioning about attorney-client privilege constraints on testifying about the relationship.
Bradley’s potential testimony, contradicting sworn statements from Willis and Wade about the timeline of their relationship, remains uncertain due to unresolved privilege claims. The judge expressed concern over the exchanges, emphasizing the need for privacy in discussing the matter.
Prosecutors attacked Bradley’s credibility, alleging his departure from Wade’s law firm was linked to a client accusing him of sexual assault, a claim Bradley denies. The judge ruled against further testimony on this issue, deeming it unrelated to the case.
The hearing’s unresolved elements indicate potential complications and delays if Willis were to be disqualified, affecting the prosecution of Trump and others on charges related to subverting Georgia’s 2020 presidential results.
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