ATLANTA — Former President Donald Trump will not attend an Atlanta court hearing Thursday on motions to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the 2020 election interference case over alleged misconduct.
"President Trump will be attending court in New York on Thursday," his attorney Steve Sadow told 11Alive.
Thursday's hearing will focus on allegations that Willis improperly benefitted from a personal relationship with her appointed special prosecutor Nathan Wade.
Trump codefendant Mike Roman alleged last month that Wade and Willis financially benefited from the relationship.
Willis appointed Wade to serve as a special prosecutor, and Wade then used a portion of the money he made from the case to pay for various trips that he and Willis took together, Roman alleges.
Wade acknowledged the relationship earlier this month in a sworn affidavit but said it began after his appointment. Wade and Willis denied allegations of misusing taxpayer funds.
Roman alleges the relationship began before Wade's appointment.
In addition to having Willis, Wade, and her office disqualified from the case, Roman seeks to have the criminal charges against him dismissed. At least nine defendants have filed or adopted motions seeking Willis' disqualification, according to defense attorneys and documents reviewed by 11Alive.
It's unclear if Willis and Wade will be forced to testify at Thursday's hearing. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee did not block subpoenas that Roman filed seeking testimony from the prosecutors and other DA's Office employees.
Instead, McAfee wants to first hear from Terrence Bradley — a former law partner and friend of Wade. McAfee will then decide who must testify.
Trump and 18 others were indicted by a Fulton County grand jury in August 2023. So far, four people have pleaded guilty.
Prosecutors want an August 2024 trial for Trump and the remaining 14 defendants. No trial date has been set.