Both parties involved in Georgia’s high-profile election interference case, which includes former President Trump, are gearing up for their final arguments as the judge presiding over the case will decide on whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis should be disqualified due to her personal relationship with the special prosecutor on the case, Nathan Wade.
“After a drama-filled two-day hearing on the motion to disqualify Willis, the public is now waiting for the next steps,” Fox News reported Thursday. “First up is an in-camera hearing with Judge Scott McAfee and the defense’s so-called ‘star witness,’ Terrence Bradley. A source confirmed to Fox News this hearing has been set for Monday, Feb. 26.”
During his testimony last Friday, Bradley struggled to speak as lawyers representing the state, as well as Bradley’s own lawyer, continually raised objections to nearly every question.
Fox News noted that the arguments revolved around whether Bradley’s testimony would breach attorney-client privilege, given that he had served as Wade’s divorce lawyer for a period.
The outlet noted further:
Anthony Kreis, a law professor at Georgia State University, described the little information Bradley was able to share in open court as “basically a dud.”
However, what is said behind closed doors in the upcoming hearing could change that. The judge is likely to determine whether Bradley’s answers actually break attorney-client privilege and how much weight to give any testimony that ends up being admissible.
Following that, a final hearing is expected, during which both the state and defense will consolidate their evidence and deliver their concluding arguments on the matter. According to multiple sources who spoke to Fox News, this hearing is expected to be scheduled for sometime next week, although an exact date is still being determined.
Kreis explained that there has been “no clear precedent” in this case and that it “all comes down to what standard of ethics Judge McAfee applies.”
The prosecution expressed its desire for the judge to apply the standard of proving an actual conflict, whereas the defense has contended that even the appearance of a conflict is sufficient to disqualify Willis, the outlet reported.
“Judge McAfee is really in a pretty, I think, unenviable position of having to wade through the law, wade through this particular case… and then make a decision accordingly,” Kreis said.
