According to a former U.S. attorney, Judge Scott McAfee’s decision to seek reelection in Georgia could potentially have significant implications for Donald Trump’s election interference case in the state. This development could introduce a completely new aspect to the ongoing legal proceedings.
McAfee, a judge in Fulton County Superior Court, will preside over the trial of the former president and 18 co-defendants. They are facing a 41-count indictment for allegedly attempting to overturn Trump’s 2020 election defeat in Georgia.
Trump has maintained his innocence and entered a plea of not guilty to all 13 charges leveled against him. He firmly believes that the case is driven by political motives, given his status as the leading contender for the GOP presidential nomination.
The case has experienced a delay due to a hearing that will decide whether Fani Willis, the Fulton County district attorney who is prosecuting Trump, should continue working on the case. This delay comes after Michael Roman, a former Trump staffer and co-defendant, accused Willis of engaging in an affair with Nathan Wade, a special prosecutor, in a court filing.
According to the filing, it was also claimed that the couple has financially benefited from taxpayers’ money. Wade has reportedly earned over $650,000 from the district attorney’s office since he started working on the case. Additionally, the filing stated that the couple has used this money to fund their vacations.
Roman’s lawyers have contended that the connection between the district attorney and the special prosecutor presents a conflict of interest. They assert that Willis must be disqualified from the case and that the charges against Roman ought to be dismissed.
Willis and Wade have acknowledged that they had a personal relationship, but they maintain that there was no conflict of interest. They assert that their relationship only started after Wade was assigned to the case. Moreover, they strongly deny any allegations of financial wrongdoing.
McAfee, presiding over the hearing, will determine whether Willis should be removed from the case.
According to Joyce Vance, a former federal prosecutor, McAfee’s involvement in Georgia might pique curiosity.
In 2023, Brian Kemp, the Republican governor of Georgia, appointed McAfee to the bench to fill a vacancy. As a result, McAfee is now required to run for election this year.
According to Vance, it is presumed that Judge McAfee will seek re-election, which could potentially introduce a fresh perspective to the recent dramatic events surrounding the Fulton County case.
A staff member from the Superior Court of Fulton County was contacted by Newsweek for comment. The staff member assured that they would pass along the message to McAfee.
McAfee served as Georgia’s inspector general from 2021 to 2023. Prior to that, he held positions as a senior assistant district attorney in Fulton County and as an assistant United States attorney for the Northern District of Georgia.
According to his campaign website, Scott is seeking election in 2024 to serve our community by addressing the COVID backlog, ensuring everyone receives a fair day in court, and maintaining community safety.
Read More:
- Indiana Rent Increase Laws 2024: What Tenants Should Know
- Tennessee Rent Increase Laws 2024: What Tenants Should Know