Fani Willis, the prosecutor leading the case against former President Trump in Georgia, has come under scrutiny in recent weeks due to potential conflicts of interest in her team.
The latest discovery reveals that Willis retained an expert prosecutor, John Floyd, who had previously donated to her campaign for district attorney in 2020. Floyd, a prominent Atlanta attorney, was retained by Willis in 2021 to assist in prosecuting the former president. However, public records show that he had donated $4,300 to Willis' campaign before she was even elected.
While some may raise concerns about potential conflicts of interest, legal experts state that these donations do not present any ethical, legal, or conflict-of-interest problems. As constitutional law expert John Shu points out, Floyd's political leanings or affiliations should not impede him from performing his duties as a special RICO prosecutor. Furthermore, Shu highlights that Floyd's donations were made long before the events at play in the Trump RICO case and could not have been anticipated at the time.
Floyd himself explained that his donations were made based on his belief in Willis' capabilities as a district attorney, stating his personal experience working with her in a previous case. He also mentioned that he had previously served as a special assistant district attorney under officials from various political parties, including an attorney general who changed affiliations during his tenure. Floyd's record of non-partisan work further supports his ability to remain impartial in his current role.
However, the revelation of Floyd's donation adds to the mounting "optics" problems for Willis, as stated by legal experts. These optics were first brought into question when it was revealed that Willis had hired Nathan Wade, with whom she admitted to having a romantic relationship. While there are no legal implications for hiring a romantic partner, the lack of transparency on Willis' part has been criticized.
The conflict-of-interest concerns were raised further when the former law firm partner and divorce attorney for Wade, Terrence Bradley, testified in court last week. He claimed that Willis and Wade's relationship had started in 2019, contradicting the testimony of both Willis and Wade. This testimony raised questions about the credibility of Bradley and potential impropriety in the hiring of Wade.
In the ongoing legal battle, Willis and Wade have both denied any wrongdoing and confirmed their romantic relationship. Willis also testified that she always paid Wade back for their shared travel expenses in cash and that no receipts exist for these reimbursements. However, these details, combined with Bradley's conflicting testimony, have raised concerns about the lack of transparency and potential conflicts of interest in the case.
Amidst these developments, it has also been revealed that Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, who is presiding over the Trump RICO case, had also donated to Willis' campaign in 2020 before his judicial appointment. This donation, along with the other conflicts of interest, has prompted McAfee to review the evidence and determine if Willis should be disqualified from prosecuting Trump and his co-defendants.
In last week's hearing, McAfee revealed that he would hold an "in-camera" meeting with Bradley to further review his testimony and determine if his previous claims of attorney-client privilege were accurate. The judge's statement raises questions about the credibility of Bradley's previous testimony and the potential for additional conflicts of interest in the case.
Neither Willis nor McAfee have responded to requests for comment on these conflicts of interest. As the case continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how these revelations will impact the proceedings and the public's perception of the case.