Thread by @NormEisen

BREAKING: Judge McAfee has followed our recommendation and called for Wade to go👇

If he does—& he will—Willis stays

Now let’s get that trial scheduled for the summer!

A thread (1/x)

justsecurity.org/91368/why-fani…

The Judge embraced the essence of Solomonic wisdom in his clever ruling by recognizing there was no actual disqualifying conflict of interest, but that the appearance of impropriety is distracting from the main issue at stake in this case -- alleged election interference

I've said from the start Wade must go & now the Judge has ruled the same👉 (2/x)washingtonpost.com/national-secur…

Let's get in to the nitty gritty...

1st the Judge makes very clear that the two alleged grounds for disqualification (1) an actual conflict of interest and (3) forensic misconduct are both denied -- the defendants failed to meet their burden of proof!(3/x)

Under GA law, a DQ conflict of interest exists only when a relationship means that a prosecutor would have motivation to make a decision that clashes with their duty to seek justice -- & the judge ruled that steep burden was not met

(4/x)justsecurity.org/91368/why-fani…

The Judge doesn't stop there, tho. He says that the established record (which btw was established very publicly over the course of the last 9+ weeks has caused a clear "appearance of impropriety that infects" the DAs team...

...& he is right! This is a new Judge, but he is showing over & over that he is an excellent one (5/x)

The judge sites previous instances of appellate courts applying the "appearance of impropriety" standard to state prosecutors. The appearance can undermine the legal system itself!

& in a case as high-profile & essential to our democracy as this one, any element that could undermine the case is a threat to the administration of justice. That's bc the main point here is the alleged election interference! (6/x)

So what does Judge McAfee do with all that? He says the DA & her entire office (!) can step aside and allow the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council to reassign the case.

OR Wade can withdraw, allowing the DA and the rest of the team to move forward without him distracting from the case.

It's a no-brainer!! (7/x)

I've said Wade should have stepped down from the very beginning 👉…

& now w Judge McAfee's ruling, he likely will and the case can go on & focus on the real issue at stake here -- alleged election interference by the former pres & co-defendants (8/8, fin)washingtonpost.com/national-secur…