MSNBC “Morning Joe” host Joe Scarborough on Friday criticized Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ handling of her election interference case against former President Donald Trump.
Judge Scott McAfee on Friday ruled that Willis must step down from the case or remove her former romantic partner and special prosecutor, Nathan Wade, from it over an “appearance of impropriety.”
Willis’ actions have significantly damaged her case and she should face ethics charges but not disqualification, Scarborough said in comments shortly before the judge’s ruling.
“First of all, Fani Willis, I mean, the judgment she used is just absolutely atrocious,” Scarborough asserted. “If there are ethical ramifications, you know, perhaps there should be. Especially if she’s lying, there definitely should be. She’s gonna have to answer to the voters … Again, the most important case, probably, that’s ever been tried in Georgia, and she has just turned it into an absolute clown show. I wanted to use another word, but it’s early in the morning and some kids are eating breakfast … We can all agree on that. I think everybody can agree that she has really, really messed this up.”
“That’s on one side of the ledger. But on the other side of the ledger is, does it in anyway prejudice the defendant?” Scarborough asked. “And does it get in the way of Donald Trump having a fair trial? These other defendants having a fair trial? I don’t see how it gets to that line. There are a lot of things a judge can do. The judge can say, ‘Ms. Willis … I cannot even believe the horrific judgment you’ve shown, and [Wade], I mean, you appoint this guy – what are you doing? You know what? We’re going to have to delay this trial. You’re gonna have to find somebody else to run your case, and I hope you don’t have a personal relationship with them as well. I don’t know if you can do that, Ms. Willis.’”
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Trump co-defendant Michael Roman alleged in a Jan. 8 motion that Willis financially benefited appointing Wade as special prosecutor for the case because of the lavish outings they undertook. The district attorney may also be referred to the bar, legal experts have said.
“It seems to me these are two totally separate things,” Scarborough added. “I really don’t understand why she would be disqualified. Ethics charges? Yes. But just have her appoint somebody else to run the case.”
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