Trump appeals Georgia court order that keeps Fani Willis on the case: ‘Should have been disqualified’

Former President Trump and eight co-defendants have appealed a court order that saved embattled Atlanta prosecutor Fani Willis on a sweeping election interference case, arguing she “should have been disqualified” for having an “improper” affair with a subordinate whom she employed. 

In a petition to the Georgia Court of Appeals, Trump and co-defendants argued a court order demanding Willis to take away particular prosecutor Nathan Wade or withdraw from the case did not go far sufficient and that she ought to have been disqualified. 

Shortly after Judge Scott McAfee issued his ultimatum earlier this month, Wade resigned from his put up, leaving Willis to proceed main the case. 

“Defendants argued in the trial court that the indictment should have been dismissed and, at a minimum, DA Willis and her office should have been disqualified from prosecuting the case,” Steve Sadow, counsel for Trump, stated in a press release Friday. 

GEORGIA ELECTION CHARGES SHOULD BE TOSSED, ACTS ARE PROTECTED BY 1ST AMENDMENT: TRUMP ATTORNEY

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis throughout a listening to in the case of the State of Georgia v. Donald John Trump at the Fulton County Courthouse March 1, 2024, in Atlanta. (Alex Slitz-Pool/Getty Images)

“While the trial court factually found DA Willis’s out-of-court statements were improper and Defendants proved an apparent conflict of interest, the trial court erred as a matter of law by not requiring dismissal and DA Willis’ disqualification. This legal error requires the Court’s immediate review,” the doc states. 

Trump and his co-defendants accused Willis of getting an “improper” affair with Wade previous to his hiring in 2021 and that she financially benefited from his place as particular counsel. Willis and Wade denied each claims. 

The defendants additionally accused Willis of creating improper and derogatory public statements about them and the case. 

JUDGE RULES FANI WILLIS MUST STEP ASIDE FROM TRUMP CASE OR FIRE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR NATHAN WADE

Former President Trump, a Republican presidential candidate, arrives for an election night time watch social gathering at Mar-a-Lago March 5, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

In his choice, McAfee stated that “[w]ithout sufficient evidence that the District Attorney acquired a personal stake in the prosecution, or that her financial arrangements had any impact on the case, the Defendants’ claims of an actual conflict must be denied.”

But he went on to say that his discovering is “by no means an indication that the Court condones this tremendous lapse in judgment or the unprofessional manner of the District Attorney’s testimony during the evidentiary hearing.

“Rather, it’s the undersigned’s opinion that Georgia regulation doesn’t allow the discovering of an precise battle for merely making unhealthy decisions – even repeatedly – and it’s the trial court’s obligation to restrict itself to the related points and relevant regulation correctly introduced earlier than it.” 

TRUMP GEORGIA CASE: FIVE KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM JUDGE’S ORDER GIVING DA FANI WILLIS AN ULTIMATUM

Former Fulton County special prosecutor Nathan Wade testifies during a hearing in the case of the State of Georgia v. Donald John Trump at the Fulton County Courthouse Feb. 15, 2024, in Atlanta. (Alyssa Pointer)

“[T]he public’s religion in the integrity of the judicial system, particularly the felony justice system, is crucial to its functioning,” the appeal states. “Courts have an obligation to make sure that authorized proceedings seem truthful to all who observe them.

“[O]ur system of regulation has at all times endeavored to forestall even the likelihood of unfairness. …[T]o carry out its excessive perform in the finest means ‘justice must satisfy the appearance of justice.’ 

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“When the public perception of the integrity of the criminal justice system is at stake, no prejudice to defendants needs to be shown.

“Nowhere are these interests more important or on display than in a high-profile case like this one that has captured the attention of the Nation,” it adds. “Crucial to the public’s confidence is that prosecutors stay and look like disinterested and neutral.”

Fox News Digital reached out to Willis’ workplace for remark.