Georgia case against Chesebro, Trump in legal jeopardy as DA Willis faces misconduct charges

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The case against former President Donald Trump in Georgia hit another obstacle this week as Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is now facing misconduct charges, putting the entire case in legal jeopardy.

In a packed courtroom with many members of the community, including clergy and politicians defending Willis, the case now stands in recess.

Willis was asked by her own office not to resume her testimony Friday. The testimony was paused in the wake of allegations she had an inappropriate relationship with the chief prosecutor in the Georgia election interference case against Trump and more than a dozen co-defendants, including Wisconsin native Kenneth Chesebro.

As previously reported by the Wisconsin Law Journal, in October of 2023, Attorney Kenneth Chesebro pleaded guilty to a felony moments before Voir Dire was slated to begin in Georgia.

In a motion obtained by the Wisconsin Law Journal, lawyers argued “Mr. Chesebro is alleged to have acted in ways that interfered with Georgia’s rules, processes, and procedures of determining its electors for the 2020 presidential election. However, every action undertaken by Mr. Chesebro, however limited, was justified under Georgia and Federal law. Mr. Chesebro, being an expert in constitutional law, acted within his capacity as a lawyer in researching and finding precedents in order to form a legal opinion which was then supplied to his client, the Trump Campaign. Nothing about Mr. Chesebro’s conduct falls outside the bounds of what lawyers do on a daily basis; researching the law in order to find solutions that address their clients particularized needs.”

However, Chesebro claimed he acted “within his capacity as a lawyer” for former President Donald Trump, claiming he was only trying to find solutions for his client’s “particularized needs.”

The misconduct allegations look into who paid for travel when accompanied by the lead prosecutor, Nathan Wade.

Pursuant to Georgia law, if Willis is disqualified, a new attorney would take over who would be faced with the decision to proceed with the charges against Trump and co-defendants, or drop the case altogether.

Assuming Willis is disqualified and a new lawyer went forward with the case, the probability of a new trial before the 2024 November election is unlikely, The Associated Press reported, noting Thursday’s testimony was “fiery and sometimes combative,” as Willis was grilled by a team of lawyers about her romantic relationship with Wade. Counsel for the former president argued the relationship Willis had now creates a conflict of interest that should force Willis off the case.

Trump posted to social media this week attacking the integrity of Georgia’s judicial system.

“It was a FAKE CASE from the start, and now everybody sees it for what it is, a MAJOR LEAGUE SCANDAL!” Trump said.

“The legal pundits, experts, and scholars are all screaming that this Witch Hunt, which has hurt so many fine people and patriots, should be immediately terminated and permanently erased from everyone’s memory. The stench of what has happened should shame Georgia no longer. It should get back to GREATNESS, and FAST!,” Trump added.

It is not yet known of the judge will rule on whether Willis and her office should be disqualified from the case.

The Wisconsin Law Journal requested an interview with Willis in-person Friday in Atlanta, but she was not available.

The Associated Press also contributed to this report.