Georgia judge sets a hearing on misconduct allegations against Fani Willis in Trump election case

The judge presiding over the Georgia prosecution of former President Donald Trump and others for efforts to overturn the 2020 election has set a hearing on a motion alleging District Attorney Fani Willis has been romantically involved with a special prosecutor she hired for the case.

In an order Thursday, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee set a Feb. 15 hearing on the motion and ordered prosecutors to file their response by Feb. 2.

Defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant, who represents former Trump campaign worker Michael Roman, made the allegation in a motion filed last week. She alleged that Willis was involved in a romantic relationship with attorney Nathan Wade that created a conflict of interest and led to Willis profiting personally from the prosecution.

Willis defended her hiring of Wade and his qualifications during an address at a church in Atlanta on Sunday but has not commented publicly on the allegation of a romantic relationship.

The Washington Post first reported the scheduling of the hearing.