Fani Willis hearing: 5 takeaways from closing arguments including allegations of playing the race card

Five key takeaways from closing arguments in DA Fani Willis's hearing

The attorneys representing former President Donald Trump and co-defendants in the Georgia election fraud case made a final pitch to disqualify Fulton County DA Fani Willis from overseeing the case. In the closing arguments made on Friday, March 1, before Judge Scott McAfee, the defense lawyers delved into accusations, including the DA playing the race card and financial benefits as she appointed special prosecutor Nathan Wade, with whom she had a romantic affair, to investigate the case. Here are the five key takeaways from the hearing.

1. A trial on Donald Trump's attempt to overturn the 2020 election

Former President Donald Trump and his associates are criminally charged over their attempts to overturn his 2020 defeat in Georgia as part of a "criminal enterprise." For the ex-president who denies these allegations, a final decision to disqualify Willis will be an advantage as it could delay or derail the trial. If the trial does not take place before the November election, Trump will get an upper hand in the case if he enters the White House for a second term.

2. Does the appearance of a conflict of interest lead to disqualification?

The defense lawyers focused on the conflict of interest to push forward the demand to disqualify Willis. Trump attorney Steven Sadow said McAfee only needs to determine that the DA and Wade created the "appearance" of a conflict of interest to be disqualified. Defense lawyers claimed both met the standard of being in a physical relationship, and the special prosecutor used the $650 000 payment for vacations with Willis. Furthermore, the defense argued the affair started before Willis hired Wade to investigate the case. Another defense lawyer, Craig Gillen, claimed the accused lied in court regarding the start of the relationship ship, adding, "Prosecutors don't act like this. Lawyers don't act like this. These people need to go," as per USA Today.

3. Defense attorney accuses Fani Willis of pulling the race card

Defense attorney Gillen also highlighted Willis's January speech at Big Bethel AME Church to push forward the disqualification motion. "She chose to pull out the race card and the God card," he said, adding it was a tactic to deflect from her personal relationship with the special prosecutor Wade. "What we have is a calculated plan to prejudice the defendants in this case. We have someone who sat down, wrote out her speech, wrote out her plan," he added, as per the news portal AJC. According to the Associated Press, in the said speech, the Fulton County DA noted that she hired three special prosecutors for Trump's case, but people only questioned the qualifications of Wade, who is a Black man

4. Chief Deputy District Attorney argues to deny disqualification motion over 'ridiculous' allegations

Chief Deputy District Attorney Adam Abbate defended Willis, saying the defense lawyers should prove an actual conflict of interest that could disqualify the DA. The Deputy DA attacked the accusations that claimed Willis hired Wade to gain financial benefits. He stated the claims were "ridiculous" and "absurd." Arguing for the DA, Abbate said, "If she has this grand plan scheme in order to profit off of the prosecution of this case, because that's what they're saying, they're saying that she telepathically or prophetically was able to know that Mr. Barnes and Mr. Banks would turn her down so she could then hire Mr. Wade," adding, "It's a desperate attempt to remove a prosecutor from a case for absolutely no reason, Your Honor, other than harassment and embarrassment," as per USA Today.

5. Judge hopes to issue ruling in two weeks

Judge McAfee, who seemed unconvinced of Deputy DA Abbate's arguments at certain points, questioned him about some of the legal citations and standard of proof. After more than three hours of arguments, the judge refrained from issuing an immediate ruling. "There are several legal issues to sort through, several factual determinations that I have to make and those aren't ones I can make at this moment," he said. McAfee indicated that he hoped to issue the final verdict within the next two weeks.