Trump's hush money trial delayed as prosecutor quits Georgia election case: Live – The Independent

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In a ruling on Friday morning, Judge Scott McAfee said that she should not be disqualified from prosecuting the RICO case – but either she or special prosecutor Nathan Wade must step down, which Mr Wade did
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A judge has denied a bid to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from Donald Trump’s election interference case in Georgia.
DA Willis had been subjected to a high-stakes series of hearings in recent weeks after attorneys for the former president and his codefendants called for her disqualification from the case.
In a ruling on Friday morning, Judge Scott McAfee ruled that she should not be disqualified from prosecuting the RICO case – but that either she or special prosecutor Nathan Wade must leave the case. Mr Wade stepped down on Friday afternoon.
The monumental ruling comes at the end of a busy week in Mr Trump’s criminal cases.
On Wednesday, Judge McAfee threw out a handful of charges from the original indictment in the Georgia case.
Then, on Thursday, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg asked the judge overseeing the hush-money case for a 30-day delay in the trial – just 11 days before jury selection was to begin.
Mr Trump was also in court in Florida fighting to have the criminal case into his alleged mishandling of classified documents thrown out.
Judge Aileen Cannon appeared sceptical about defence arguments and later dismissed one of the motions.
Judge Juan Merchan has delayed Donald Trump’s hush money trial in New York by 30 days.
A hearing on discovery issues raised by the defence will be held on 25 March — the original trial date — and jury selection will tentatively start on 15 April.
This is a developing story…
Alex Woodward reports:
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has accepted the resignation of her outside prosecutor and former romantic partner who was hired to lead a sprawling criminal case against Donald Trump and his allies for their alleged scheme to overturn Georgia’s election results in 2020.
Nathan Wade’s notice arrived hours after Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee determined that Ms Willis and her office should step aside or Mr Wade should withdraw following several days of hearings on allegations that she financially benefited from his hiring.
His letter to Ms Willis and her reply underscored Mr Trump’s alleged efforts to overthrow 2020 results and the years of work among prosecutors to get the case to trial, after they spent weeks hearing salacious allegations from Mr Trump and his allies that prosecutors argue were designed to embarrass them and distract from the case against the former president.
Continue reading…
Attorneys underscore Trump’s alleged efforts to overthrow 2020 results
In an appearance on Fox News this afternoon, Donald Trump’s former vice president Mike Pence said he could not be endorsing his one-time boss.
“It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year,” he told Martha MacCallum.
While Mr Pence said he was proud of the record of the Trump administration, he said there were fundamental differences between him and the former president, not just over his constitutional role on 6 January 2021.
The former vice president then listed a litany of reasons in which Mr Trump had lost his vote — namely he was no longer pursuing a conservative agenda.
Mr Pence then declined to say who he would vote for in November but clarified it would not be for Joe Biden.
Watch the segment below:
After remaining silent on the Judge Scott McAfee’s ruling for much of the day, Donald Trump has reacted to the news that Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade has resigned from the Fulton County election interference case.
Here’s what the former president wrote on Truth Social a few minutes ago:
The Fani Willis lover, Mr. Nathan Wade Esq., has just resigned in disgrace, as per his and her reading of the Judge’s Order today. Nathan was the “Special,” in more ways than one, Prosecutor “engaged” by Fani (pronounced Fauni!) Willis, to persecute TRUMP for Crooked Joe Biden and his Department of Injustice, for purposes of Election Interference and living the life of the Rich & Famous. This is the equivalent of Deranged Jack Smith getting “canned,” BIG STUFF, something which should happen in the not too distant future!!!
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has accepted Nathan Wade’s resignation.
Here is her response in full:
Dear Mr Wade:
I received your resignation letter dated March 15, 2024, and I accept it, effective immediately. I compliment you for the professionalism and dignity you have shown over the last 865 days, as you have endured threats against you and your family, as well as unjustified attacks in the media and in court on your reputation as a lawyer.
I will always remember — and will remind everyone — that you were brave enough to step forward and take on the investigation and prosecution of the allegations that the defendants in this case engaged in a conspiracy to overturn Georgia’s 2020 Presidential Election. Others who were considered were understandably concerned for the safety of themselves and their families that would arise from their acceptance of your role. You were the one who had the courage to accept the role, even though you did not seek it.
You are an outstanding advocate. In the 865 days you served on this case you completed a thorough investigation that required the use of a Special Purpose Grand Jury to compel the testimony of witnesses inside and outside of Georgia, including litigating in eight states, the District of Columbia, and the United States Supreme Court to obtain critical testimony.
You led a team that secured a true bill of indictment against nineteen individuals who are accused of violating Georgia law to undermine the 2020 election for the former President of the United States. You have successfully litigated in the United States District Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit to ensure that Fulton County citizens will be the jurors who decide justice in this case.
Please accept my sincere gratitude on behalf of the citizens of Fulton County Georgia for your patriotism, courage, and dedication to justice. I wish you the best in your future endeavors.
Yours in Service,
Fani T Willis District Attorney Atlanta Judicial Circuit
Here is Nathan Wade’s resignation letter, delivered to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis by hand:
Dear District Attorney Willis:
The furtherance of the rule of law and democracy is and has always been the North Star of our combined efforts in the prosecution of those who are alleged to have attempted to overthrow the results of Georgia’s 2020 Presidential Election. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that a Fulton County jury in a Fulton County courtroom renders a true and just verdict in this case.
As directed by the Order today in State of Georgia v. Donald John Trump, et al., 23SC 188947, I hereby offer my resignation, effective immediately, as Special Prosecutor for the Fulton County District Attorney’s office. Although the court found, that “the Defendants failed to meet their burden of proving that the District Attorney acquired an actual conflict of interest,” I am offering my resignation in the interest of democracy, in dedication to the American public, and to move this case forward as quickly as possible.
I am proud of the work our team has accomplished in investigating, indicting, and litigating this case. Seeking justice for the people of Georgia and the United States, and being part of the effort to ensure that the rule of law and democracy are preserved, has been the honor of a lifetime.
I am sure that the case, and the team, will be in good hands moving forward and justice will be served. You, the team on this case, and the entire office have my prayers for your safety and your success in the pursuit of justice.
Respectfully,
Nathan J Wade, Esq
Gustaf Kilander reports:
A Trump-backed Senate candidate in Ohio has said that an intern pranked him by making a profile for him on an adult website.
Bernie Moreno may clinch the Ohio Republican Senate nomination in the primary set for Tuesday, shooting to the top after being endorsed by former president Donald Trump. He was a supporter of LGBT+ rights before switching stances and becoming an opponent.
Mr Moreno is now facing questions regarding a profile from 2008 on the site Adult Friend Finder seeking sexual partners. The profile sought “men for 1-on-1 sex”.
Read the full article:
Bernie Moreno has made comments in support of LGBT+ rights in the past and his car dealership sponsored the 2014 Gay Games
The story is reportedly causing some consternation in Trumpworld…
The “acid” the former president is referring to was actually software called BleachBit…
Donald Trump once again repeated his unsupported claim that Hillary Clinton used “all sorts of acid testing and everything else” to delete emails that were stored on her work server. The former president made the issue central to the 2016 presidential election, which saw him beat his Democratic rival and former US secretary of state to the White House. Eight years later, Mr Trump repeated the claims during an interview with Newsmax. “What she did was unbelievable, and nothing happens to her,” Mr Trump said this week. After a years-long FBI investigation, it was determined that Ms Clinton’s server did not contain any information or emails that were clearly marked classified.
Law professor and political scientist Anthony Michael Kreis weighs in on CNN:
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Former President Donald Trump leaves Manhattan criminal court, Feb. 15, 2024, in New York
AP
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