Following the dismissal of six charges against former President Donald Trump and eighteen co-defendants by Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, CNN’s resident legal analyst criticised Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and her prosecutors for their careless conduct.
Elie Honig, an expert and former federal prosecutor, stated that McAfee’s decision was the result of Willis’ “screw up” and referred to it as a “embarrassing” development for her and her prosecution team.
Dismissing the counts is a “setback,” even though it is acknowledged that the case is still “in place.”
Earlier this year, reports of an improper relationship between the former president and Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade complicated Willis’ case against him for his purported attempt to rig the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia. Wade was one of the prosecutors Willis had brought in to work on the Trump investigation.
She refuted the accusations on the witness stand during a dramatic evidentiary hearing last month, which was brought on by the alleged conflict of interest that clouded the case.
Other legal experts also believe she and Wade may have perjured themselves by claiming under oath and in court documents that their relationship began after he was hired, after witnesses and other evidence indicate that it likely started much sooner.
Honig added this to the list of other “screw-ups” that Willis had made in the case when describing it as a “screw-up” on the part of the prosecutors and Willis in an interview with CNN host Jim Acosta.
Although some of the charges are dropped, he acknowledged that it is embarrassing for the prosecution. “I don’t think this ruling changes the type of evidence that the DA’s going to be able to introduce,” he said. “Prosecutors make a mistake when they file a charge and the judge dismisses it before the case even gets to trial.”
He continued by criticising Willis’ actions throughout the legal proceedings.
Following the filing of another Democrat to run for office on Friday, Willis will face at least two opponents in the fall.
Prior to this, Courtney Kramer, a former attorney for the Trump administration who bills herself on her Instagram page as a “MAGA attorney,” also filed last week. Christian Wise Smith, a Democrat who had previously worked as a Fulton County prosecutor and an Atlanta municipal solicitor, will now oppose Willis. Smith filed paperwork at the Georgia state capitol on Friday, according to CBS News.
Party primaries are scheduled for May 21, with the general election on Nov. 5.
In a statement to the outlet, Wise Smith said he had yet to decide formally if he would challenge Willis, but noted that the filing of paperwork was a required first step.
“Running for public office is not a decision I take lightly,” Wise Smith said. “I am heavily considering the options as I aim to reach a final determination on my candidacy—ultimately, I only want what is best for the citizens of Fulton County. Should I decide to launch my campaign officially, my team is prepared to take all the necessary steps.”