Title: Trump Lawyers Join Effort to Disqualify Georgia Prosecutor, Allege Attempt to ‘Foment Racial Bias’
Key Points:
- Former President Donald Trump’s legal team, led by attorneys Steven Sadow and Jennifer Little, has officially joined an initiative to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from Trump’s election interference case in Georgia. The court filing alleges that Willis attempted to “foment racial bias” during a speech at an Atlanta church.
- In the motion filed on Thursday, Trump’s attorneys sought to align with co-defendant Michael Roman’s motion, aiming to disqualify Willis and dismiss criminal charges based on an alleged improper relationship between Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade, who is involved in the case.
- The filing highlights Willis’ speech at the Big Bethel AME Church, where she defended Wade’s qualifications and suggested that the scrutiny they faced was due to their racial background. Trump’s legal team argues that Willis’ comments were a deliberate effort to inject racial bias into the case.
- Trump’s attorneys contend that Willis’ remarks violated Georgia’s rules for professional conduct, which prohibit prosecutors from making extrajudicial comments that could substantially increase public condemnation of the accused.
- Forbes has reached out to Willis’ office for comment.
Background:
- Trump and Roman are among 17 co-defendants charged by Willis for their alleged roles in obstructing President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory in Georgia. The case has faced controversy amid recent allegations of an improper relationship between Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade.
- Documents from Wade’s divorce case suggest that he and Willis traveled together. However, neither Willis nor Wade have officially responded to these allegations.
Chief Critic:
- Trump, utilizing Truth Social, has frequently criticized Willis throughout the case, labeling her as “racist” and accusing her of targeting him. His campaign released an advertisement portraying Willis as a member of the “fraud squad” prosecuting Trump. The ad, which alleged, without evidence, a relationship between Willis and “a gang member” she was prosecuting, was deemed “derogatory and false” by Willis.