Donations Called Into Question In Fulton County Case
A prominent attorney who was retained by Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis to help prosecute former President Donald Trump had previously donated $4,300 to Willis' campaign for public office, according to public records. This disclosure has raised some concern about the optics of the situation, as Willis is currently leading the case against the former president.
The attorney in question, John Floyd, is a well-respected litigator and expert in Georgia's racketeering statutes, which are at the center of the case against Trump. However, some experts have pointed out that Floyd's previous campaign donations could add to the mounting optics problems for Willis.
Despite these concerns, experts agree that Floyd's donations do not present any ethical, legal, or conflict-of-interest problems. They argue that Floyd's political leanings or affiliations should not affect his ability to serve as a special RICO prosecutor for Willis. Additionally, it should be noted that several other members of Floyd's law firm also donated to Willis' campaign.
According to constitutional law expert John Shu, the real issue lies with Willis' decision to hire Nathan Wade, with whom she has admitted to having a romantic relationship. Wade, who has no experience with RICO or felony cases, is being paid $100/hour more than Floyd. This has caused concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the impartiality of the case.
Floyd defended his donations, stating that they were made long before the election and could not have been related to events that had not yet occurred. He also mentioned that he contributed to Willis' campaign because of his personal experience working with her on a seven-month trial in 2014-15.
In addition to Floyd's donations, public records also show that Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, who is presiding over the Trump case and will ultimately determine whether Willis should be disqualified, also donated to her campaign. McAfee was an assistant U.S. attorney at the Justice Department when he made the $150 donation in 2020.
Last week, McAfee held a two-day hearing to review evidence for a motion to disqualify Willis from the case. The defense's key witness, Terrence Bradley, made a bombshell admission after initially avoiding questions about what he knew about Wade and Willis' romantic relationship. McAfee has since called for an "in-camera" meeting with Bradley to determine the validity of his previous privilege assertions.
In response to these developments, McAfee said that he is now questioning whether Bradley has properly interpreted client-attorney privilege. He also stated that he will review further evidence before deciding whether Bradley should take the witness stand again.
Neither Willis nor McAfee have responded to requests for comment on the situation. It remains to be seen how the judge will handle the admission made by the defense's key witness and whether Willis will be disqualified from prosecuting Trump and his co-defendants. The case against the former president continues to attract attention, and these recent developments only add to the scrutiny and uncertainty surrounding it.