Trying to get Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis disqualified from handling Donald Trump‘s Georgia case about election interference, Trump’s lawyers have requested oral arguments.
Recently, the Georgia appeals court paused Trump’s case to decide on disqualifying Willis. In May, a panel in Georgia agreed to hear Trump’s appeal on disqualifying Willis and Nathan Wade, who was a Special Prosecutor at the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office. Judge Scott McAfee ruled earlier that Willis could stay on the case if Wade, who had a relationship with Willis, stepped down.
Trump, the expected Republican nominee for 2024, and 18 others face criminal racketeering charges in Georgia for allegedly trying to change the outcome of the 2020 election that Joe Biden won. All defendants deny any wrongdoing.
The Georgia Court of Appeals has set an oral argument date for Trump, tentatively in October. Trump’s legal team believes this will help clarify why Willis should not preside over the case due to alleged misconduct.
The state’s appeals court could replace Willis, leading to a new prosecutor taking over Trump’s case, potentially causing further delays.
Some experts are concerned about suspending court proceedings, especially close to a presidential election. MSNBC’s Andrew Weissmann criticized the move, calling it an attempt to halt Trump’s indictment by a grand jury.