7 ways in which Fani Willis hearing could be pivotal in Trump's 2020 Georgia election interference case

7 ways the Fani Willis hearing could affect Donald Trump's Georgia election subversion case

On Thursday, February 15, a dramatic hearing will set the stage to determine the future of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and the special prosecutor Nathan Wade in Donald Trump's election subversion case. Most importantly, the hearing is crucial in deciding the fate of the ex-POTUS and 14 others charged with attempts to overturn the 2020 election result in Georgia. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee will hold the anticipated hearing, which is expected to reveal further details about Willis and Wade's "personal" relationship. Let's check out how Willis' hearing can play a pivotal role in deciding the future of the 2020 Georgia election interference case. 

1. Why is the Fani Willis hearing being held?

The primary aim of the Thursday hearing is to resolve significant questions that could decide Willis' future in the election subversion case against Trump. According to Judge McAfee, the relevant inquiry will answer if the Fulton County DA and special prosecutor Wade were in a relationship, whether it was romantic, and whether it continues. Most importantly, it is necessary to determine the extent of any financial benefit that might have been exchanged between the two. If found guilty, Willis could be disqualified from the state lawsuit against Trump, which, according to the judge, is highly possible.

2. Fani Willis admitted to having an affair with special prosecutor Nathan Wade

On February 2, Willis and Wade admitted to having a "personal relationship," including a romantic affair. She publicly acknowledged the allegations following co-defendant Michale Roman's January filing, where he sought to dismiss the charges against him and disqualify Willis and alleged that the DA financially benefited from hiring Wade.

3. Fani Willis and Nathan Wade deny enjoying financial benefits

Willis and Wade staunchly denied the allegations of financial benefit raised by Roman. According to their sworn court filings, their affair began in 2022, almost a year after the DA hired Wade to lead the investigation against Trump in November 2021. "No funds paid to me in compensation for my role as Special Prosecutor have been shared with or provided to District Attorney Willis. The District Attorney received no funds or personal financial gain from my position as Special Prosecutor," said the special prosecutor in the affidavit, as per The Washington Post. He also denied using the money he received in legal fees from Fulton County on the vacations they took together.

4. Search for a proper timeline of Fani Willis and Nathan Wade's affair

The date when the affair between Willis and Wade started is expected to be evident in the hearing to weigh upon if their romantic relationship influenced the case against Trump in any way. During the February 11 hearing, Roman's attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, told Judge McAfee that she wants a former law partner of Wade's and a former employee of the DA office to take the stand and testify that the couple's romantic relationship started before Willis hired him in the Trump case. If true, this could mean Wade and Willis lied in their court filing, which could lead to their disqualification from the case. As per them, they got romantically involved in 2022, while Wade was hired in November 2021.

5. What do legal experts have to say about the Fani Willis hearing? 

Willis admitting her relationship with Wade was a setback for the Democrats. Therefore, legal experts, especially from the Democratic side, found the DA's relationship with the special prosecutor embarrassing. However, a group of 17 former prosecutors and defense attorneys downplayed Roman's allegations, arguing their affair in no way undermined the defendants' right to a fair trial. "But even if all Defendants' allegations are true, they do not mandate disqualification here. Indeed, they do not even come close," opined former chief White House ethics lawyer Richard Painter. At the same time, Georgia law professor Clark Cunningham told USA Today that Willis should step down to prevent putting the case at risk.

6. What did Donald Trump say about Fani Willis' affair with Nathan Wade?

Taking to Truth Social, Trump went on a fiery rant soon after Willis publicly admitted her romantic relationship with Wade. The former president, who continuously denied election interference in Georgia, used it to his advantage, claiming, "THIS SCAM IS TOTALLY DISCREDITED & OVER!" His February 2 Truth Social Post doubled down on co-defendant Romans' claims of the couple's financial gains. He remarked, "By going after the most high-level person, and the Republican Nominee, she was able to get her 'lover' much more money, almost a Million Dollars, than she would be able to get for the prosecution of any other person or individual." 

7. What will the result of the hearing mean for Trump?

Even if the court finds Willis and Wade guilty of financial benefits leading to their disqualification, it would not necessarily dismiss the election subversion case against Trump. According to MSNBC, the possible change will be another office handling the case hereafter, which could cause further delay. This might be beneficial for Trump as he closes in on the GOP nomination ahead of a crucial presidential election.