Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr is urging his state’s highest court to reject an appeal of a recent decision to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from President-elect Donald Trump‘s 2020 Georgia election subversion criminal case.
Why It Matters
The Georgia Court of Appeals removed Willis from the case earlier this month, ruling that Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee had previously “erred by failing to disqualify DA Willis and her office” due to her personal relationship with former prosecutor Nathan Wade. Willis quickly filed papers indicating that she would appeal the decision.
Trump was indicted in Fulton County last year alongside 18 codefendants on multiple felony counts related to attempts to overturn President Joe Biden‘s 2020 election win in Georgia. The president-elect maintains his innocence and claims that Willis and other Democrats are involved in a plot to “weaponize” the justice system and “persecute” him.
What We Know
Carr, a Republican who has announced his candidacy in Georgia’s 2026 gubernatorial election, said the following in a statement shared Monday to X, formerly Twitter:
“The Georgia Court of Appeals has ruled that the Fulton County DA created her own conflict and rightfully removed her from the case against President-elect Trump.
“‘Lawfare’ has become far too common in American politics, and it must end.
“As such, I would encourage the Georgia Supreme Court to not take her appeal.
“It’s our hope that the DA will now focus taxpayer resources on the successful prosecution of violent criminals in Fulton County.”
Willis responded to Carr’s statement by pointing out that the attorney general is “a witness in the case he is trying to influence,” according to Atlanta Journal-Constitution politics reporter Greg Bluestein.
“Apparently, he is more focused on the politics of the 2026 Republican gubernatorial primary rather than the law,” Willis reportedly said.
“If Mr. Carr cannot separate his ambition to become Governor from his duties as Attorney General, he should resign and focus on being a full-time candidate rather than serving as a constitutional officer sworn to uphold the Constitutions and laws of the United States and Georgia,” she added.
In a statement emailed to Newsweek, Carr spokesperson Kara Murray responded with the following: “When you find yourself in a hole of your own making, the first thing you should do is stop digging. For America’s sake, Ms. Willis should stop digging.”
Newsweek reached out for comment to the office of Willis via email on Monday.
What People Are Saying
Republican Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, in response to Carr’s statement on X: “Agreed, @Georgia_AG! Georgians deserve safe communities and partisan politics out of our courtrooms.”
Georgia Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, also a Republican, on X: “I have said for years that Fani Willis orchestrated a political charade against President Trump. When he had opportunities to lead, our Attorney General was missing in action. Where he failed, the Georgia Senate won’t. We look forward to holding her accountable at a future hearing.”
What Happens Next
Regardless of whether Willis is in charge of the case, Trump’s election victory on November 5 and Justice Department rules that dictate sitting presidents cannot be put on trial mean that the Fulton County prosecution and any other criminal proceedings against the president-elect are all but certain to be off the table until at least January 2029.
Update 12/30, 7:50 p.m. ET: This article has been updated to include a statement from Chris Carr’s spokesperson Kara Murray.
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