McAfee rules the Fulton County Trump case can go on…if Wade leaves it

[pdq]

NBC News:

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee found the "appearance of impropriety" brought about by Willis' romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade should result in either Willis and her office leaving the case - or just Wade, who she'd appointed to head the case.

The choice is likely to be an easy one: If Willis were to remove herself, the case would come to a halt, but having Wade leave will ensure the case continues without further delay.

The judge also found there was no "actual conflict" brought about by the relationship, a finding that would have required Willis to be disqualified. "Without sufficient evidence that the District Attorney acquired a personal stake in the prosecution, or that her financial arrangements had any impact on the case, the Defendants’ claims of an actual conflict must be denied," the judge wrote.

I suppose a “split the baby” result is to be expected in a high-profile case like this, but I am happy to see that the judge ruled that there was no conflict of interest, and the case goes on.

[Lemon Drop]

Ha, I just read the headline and said "he split the baby..."

Let's get on with the prosecution.

[Ca Bob]

Perhaps the best we could have hoped for given the circumstances. But Willis better have a good prosecutor in her back pocket.

[Ombligo]

of course, Trump wants to appeal the decision not to dismiss.

[Speedy]

Ombligo wrote:
of course, Trump wants to appeal the decision not to dismiss.

Trump will do anything to delay, delay, delay, delay, delay, delay, delay, delay, delay, delay, delay, delay. Look at Paxton in Texas.

[Ombligo]

The last time he had evidence, he held this up ....

[pdq]

Rudy (and other co-defendants in the Fulton County case)…umm…disappointed that their get-out-of-jail-free-card didn’t come through for them:

Rudy Giuliani Rages at Judge Over Fani Willis Ruling

…Speaking on conservative network Newsmax, Giuliani, a close Trump ally and legal adviser following the 2020 presidential election, hit out at McAfee's decision. He said: "This is absurd. This judge is a disgrace. He's an absolute disgrace.

"This woman [Willis] committed perjury right in front of him... What kind of a sissy boy is he? The woman made a fool out of him, treated him like garbage... This judge has so little regard for the law."

…says the guy who has so little sense of self-irony.

Giuliani was charged on 13 counts including violating Georgia's anti-organized crime RICO act, conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree and conspiracy to file false documents. He, like Trump, has pled not guilty to all charges and strongly denies any wrongdoing.

He also noted on Twitter:

"It's no coincidence that three of the states with the most questions concerning election integrity and secure voting also happen to be the largest 'Swing States' in the country.

…or alternately, it’s no coincidence that the most electoral-vote-rich swing states that went for Biden were the ones targeted by (and baselessly smeared by) Giuliani and his buddies. You invented all the “questions”, Rudy.

"Pennsylvania (#5), Georgia (#8), and Michigan (#10) saw some of the worst problems in 2020..." Giuliani added.

Evidence, Rudy. You’ve had years now, and every claim has blown up in your face. But you thought you were untouchable; bulletproof, like your Orange hero. Now you’re going to have to sell your $3.5M Florida condo to pay for the defamation verdict against you, your divorce settlement, and all the lawyers and others you’ve stiffed.



Poor baby. It’s just so unfair!

[pdq]

PS (same link):

Creditors also demanded that Giuliani secure homeowners insurance for his Florida and New York City residences since they are his two most valuable assets and “if anything were to happen to either of them, such loss would be a significant impediment to creditor recoveries.”

Giuliani has claimed he cannot afford the insurance, the court document said.

Not many people can in Florida any more. Global warming sucks when you’re building on sand at the edge of a rising sea.

[pdq]

And finally:

…the court document cited various expenses Giuliani pays now to maintain his lifestyle.

For example, Giuliani spends tens of thousands of dollars a month to maintain his Florida condo. In January, according to the document, he also racked up more than $26,200 in credit card payments on 60 Amazon transactions, with charges for Netflix, Prime Video, Kindle, Audible, Paramount+, Uber rides and more.

Says his lawyer:

“We don’t believe that there’s anything out of the ordinary, outside of normal living expenses.”

You know, if I was ordered to pay ~$150M to election workers I knowingly and falsely defamed, I would also find it hard to trim my Amazon bill below $26K a month. That’s just normal living expenses.

:RollingEyesSmiley5:

[Speedy]

pdq wrote:
And finally:

…the court document cited various expenses Giuliani pays now to maintain his lifestyle.

For example, Giuliani spends tens of thousands of dollars a month to maintain his Florida condo. In January, according to the document, he also racked up more than $26,200 in credit card payments on 60 Amazon transactions, with charges for Netflix, Prime Video, Kindle, Audible, Paramount+, Uber rides and more.

Says his lawyer:

“We don’t believe that there’s anything out of the ordinary, outside of normal living expenses.”

You know, if I was ordered to pay ~$150M to election workers I knowingly and falsely defamed, I would also find it hard to trim my Amazon bill below $26K a month. That’s just normal living expenses.

:RollingEyesSmiley5:

His special hair dye is expensive. And the amount of Veagra he must need…