Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis cannot continue prosecuting President Donald Trump’s alleged election interference case after the Georgia Supreme Court declined to hear her appeal. The 4-3 decision upheld a lower court ruling that disqualified her from the case.
The nonpartisan Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia will now assign a new prosecutor. That process could create delays and uncertainty for one of the most high-profile criminal cases facing Trump.
The court’s ruling followed Willis’ January appeal. Four justices voted against taking the case, three voted in favor, one did not participate, and another was disqualified, according to Fox News.
Willis acknowledged the decision but defended her position.
“While I disagree with the decision of the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court’s divided decision not to review it, I respect the legal process and the courts,” she told Fox 5 Atlanta.
“Accordingly, my office will make the case file and evidence available to the Prosecuting Attorneys Council for use in the ongoing litigation. I hope that whoever is assigned to handle the case will have the courage to do what the evidence and the law demand,” she continued.
Trump’s lead counsel in Georgia, Steve Saddow, welcomed the decision.
“The GA Supreme Ct. has correctly denied review of the GA Ct. of Appeals decision disqualifying DA Willis and her office as prosecutors in the Fulton County RICO case,” Saddow said in a statement to Fox 5 Atlanta. He added that Willis’ “misconduct during the investigation and prosecution of President Trump was egregious and she deserved nothing less than disqualification.”
The ruling means Willis can no longer personally prosecute Trump.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the case involves allegations that Trump and his associates tried to interfere with Georgia’s 2020 election results. A new prosecutor must now decide whether to continue pursuing the charges.
The Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council will inherit all case files and evidence collected under Willis’ direction. The council faces the task of appointing a replacement willing to manage the complex case.
