Ga. case: Merchant says Willis has 'personal interest' in Trump case
John Merchant, the lawyer for Michael Roman, argued that Fani Willis had "a personal interest in the case." When the judge pressed him on what that means, Merchant said, "There’s no definition of that under Georgia law" but that it could be financial or otherwise, but that the most important consideration was "what this looks like to the public."
Fla. case: Court back in session
Court appears to be back in session as the hearing over scheduling the classified documents trial continues.
A federal hearing underway in Florida could determine when Trump’s trial on charges that he mishandled classified documents could begin. Watch "Ana Cabrera Reports" for more on the scheduling hearing.
Closing arguments to begin on bid to disqualify Fulton County DA Fani Willis from Trump election case
ATLANTA — Closing arguments are set to take place Friday afternoon over whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis should be disqualified from the Georgia election interference case against former President Donald Trump and his co-defendants.
The stakes are high: If Willis is removed because of the misconduct allegations, her entire office would be disqualified, as well, and a new prosecutor would have to take over the sprawling case alleging that Trump and his allies conspired to illegally overturn the election results in the state.
One of Trump’s co-defendants, former Trump White House and campaign staffer Michael Roman, filed a motion seeking Willis’ disqualification and the dismissal of the criminal case. Roman, and later Trump, accused her of having an “improper” personal relationship with Nathan Wade, the lawyer she’d appointed as a special prosecutor in the case.
Roman alleged that Willis skirted the rules to appoint Wade and that she benefited financially from his appointment, which has earned his office over $600,000 to date.
Ga. case: What you might have missed in the Fulton County case
- A trial date in the case has yet to be set.
- One of Trump's co-defendants, Michael Roman, was the first to allege that Fani Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade engaged in a romantic relationship, alleging she improperly benefited from it.
- The relationship caused Judge Scott McAfee to hold a hearing earlier this month to hear testimony on the issue as he considers whether Willis should be disqualified from prosecuting the election interference case.
- Willis and Wade testified and said they’d dated for a little over a year after he was appointed as special prosecutor and that she didn’t profit from his work. Both said that while Wade would sometimes charge plane tickets for Willis to his credit card, she’d repay him with cash or by picking up other bills.
- Earlier this week, Wade's former divorce attorney, Terrence Bradley, retook the stand and testified that he couldn't remember key details related to the misconduct allegations.
Fla. case: Cannon's decision could affect Trump's other trials
Cannon’s decision will be critical in shaping the timeline for Trump’s court proceedings this year as he also faces trials in three other cases: the hush money charges in New York and separate election interference charges in Washington, D.C., and Fulton County, Georgia.
The New York trial will start late next month, with jury selection scheduled to begin March 25, and is estimated to last about six weeks. The Washington trial, which was originally set for March 4, was indefinitely postponed as the Supreme Court weighs Trump’s claims of presidential immunity. A trial in the Georgia case has not been scheduled, and it’s up in the air whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis will be able to prosecute the case following misconduct claims against her. On Friday afternoon, a Fulton County judge is hearing closing arguments on the motion to disqualify Willis.
Fla. case: Trump lawyers, special counsel split over how much of their political thinking potential jurors should have to disclose
Former President Donald Trump's lawyers and special counsel Jack Smith’s team are at odds over how much about their personal politics potential jurors have to disclose on a questionnaire for the classified documents case.
The two sides’ joint proposed jury questionnaire agreed on most questions but noted their disagreements on some — including those about political affiliations.
The defense proposed questions about whether potential jurors were registered to vote and registered with a political party and whether they voted in the 2020 election. The special counsel’s team objected to the questions in the filing Wednesday.
The special counsel proposed asking potential jurors whether they believe the 2020 presidential election was stolen. Trump’s team objected to the question.
Trump’s team is pushing to add a question about whether potential jurors view politicians in a negative light. The questionnaire also asks about views about federal prosecutors, law enforcement, criminal defense attorneys and judges.
What happens if Fulton County DA Fani Willis is disqualified from the Trump racketeering case?
If a Georgia judge signs off on a bid to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from her racketeering case against former President Donald Trump and numerous co-defendants, it could delay any trial until well after the 2024 election — and possibly scuttle the charges altogether, legal experts told NBC News.
For a new prosecutor to take over the sprawling 15-defendant case would be a “massive undertaking,” said Amy Lee Copeland, a defense lawyer and former federal prosecutor in Georgia, adding that the theoretical new prosecutor could decide to amend the charges or even “decide not to pursue it.”
Ga. case: Defense begins closing arguments
John Merchant, Roman's defense attorney, is starting his closing arguments, focusing on what he alleges is a conflict of interest on Willis' part.
Closing arguments have begun in Georgia misconduct hearing
Closing arguments have begun in the Fulton County, Georgia, hearing on misconduct allegations against District Attorney Fani Willis.