A Fulton County judge ruled on Friday that District Attorney Fani Willis and her office could remain on the 2020 election case involving former President Donald Trump and his allies, provided that Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor who was in a romantic relationship with Willis, steps aside. The ruling by Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee came after weeks of fiery testimony and legal arguments regarding the alleged conflict of interest.

In his 23-page decision, McAfee outlined the options for proceeding with the case. He stated that either Willis could step aside along with her entire office, allowing the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council to reassign the prosecution, or Wade could withdraw from the case. McAfee emphasized the importance of addressing the potential for distraction and compromise of the case’s merits due to the romantic relationship between Willis and Wade.

The controversy surrounding Willis and Wade began with an allegation by Michael Roman, a GOP operative and co-defendant of Trump, who claimed that Willis had improperly benefited from her relationship with Wade. While Willis admitted to the romantic involvement, she vehemently denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the relationship began after Wade was hired in November 2021.

McAfee’s ruling allows Willis and her office to continue prosecuting the case if Wade withdraws, but he criticized Willis for what he described as a “tremendous lapse in judgment” and the “unprofessional manner” of her testimony during the hearings. Despite his rebuke, McAfee concluded that Georgia law did not establish an actual conflict solely based on bad choices and upheld Willis’s role in the case.

In response to McAfee’s decision, Trump’s attorney, Steve Sadow, vowed to pursue all legal options available to dismiss the case. He criticized the court for not giving sufficient weight to the alleged prosecutorial misconduct by Willis and Wade, including financial benefits and untruthful testimony about the timing of their relationship.

McAfee’s ruling acknowledged the appearance of impropriety in the prosecution due to Willis and Wade’s romantic relationship. While unable to definitively establish when the relationship turned romantic, McAfee highlighted the potential for wrongdoing and the need to address the perception of impropriety.

Despite finding fault with Willis and Wade’s actions, McAfee concluded that Trump and his co-defendants did not meet the burden of proving an actual conflict of interest. He also denied Trump’s request to disqualify Willis based on forensic misconduct related to a speech she gave at a historically Black church.

The ruling marks a significant development in the high-profile case, which has drawn national attention. McAfee’s decision allows the prosecution to proceed, albeit with Wade’s withdrawal, and underscores the importance of maintaining integrity and impartiality in legal proceedings.