CNN host Laura Coates, in an attempt to salvage some optimism from the damaging ruling disqualifying Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from former President Donald Trump’s election crimes trial, highlighted that the judge debunked some of the defense’s claims.
Willis faced disqualification over allegations that her relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade led to financial benefits, constituting a conflict of interest—a charge vehemently denied by Willis.
Judge Scott McAfee’s ruling on Friday permitted DA Willis to remain on the case if Wade stepped aside, though it also contained critical statements about Willis.
During CNN’s Newsroom segment, Coates acknowledged that while the decision wasn’t an outright victory for prosecutors, it did offer insights that bolstered Willis’s credibility. Coates emphasized the judge’s dismissal of the defense’s assertions, particularly regarding the alleged financial linkage between salary and vacation expenses—a point critical for the prosecution’s case.
Coates highlighted the judge’s rejection of the defense’s theory that the case was prolonged to sustain a romantic relationship between Willis and Wade. She underscored that Willis had consistently sought to expedite the case and unify defendants, contrary to the defense’s claims.
LAURA COATES: I mean, yes, this is, as you mentioned, Paula, a it’s a win-ish, but there is a lot of good information in here to actually buttress the credibility of Fani Willis. It might be surprising.
One part in particular, this judge called BS on the idea that the people who brought this motion had proven that the money that was given as a salary was the — was a through line to what was used for the vacation. That was their burden. Just like it’ll be the burden of the prosecutors at trial to make their case.
Also, another aspect of here that they said, this was the theory of the defense’s case and the defense — meaning Trump and counsel — that they were bringing this case and prolonging this case in an effort to sustain their romantic relationship. Go to West Virginia and drive there or Nashville at different points in time.
The judge essentially said, well, that can’t be true, that she was trying to prolong, not only she asked for a trial date in six months after she brought this case, she said that she didn’t want to sever these defendants. She wanted them all to stay together.
Everything that she was doing was trying to expedite this case, which belies what they were trying to articulate, and so on that realm, she has some legs to stand on.
I do agree this judge, if you thought Robert Hur’s one line about Biden was problematic, this is a whole opinion full of things.
JIM ACOSTA: This is a whole lot of Hur.
LAURA COATES: You know what, I’m sure the office wants to hear it, but I’m suspecting it’s one of those. You don’t have to go home, Nathan Wade, but you can’t stay here.
JIM ACOSTA: Yeah, it’s it’s closing time.
Coates alluded to the comprehensive nature of the judge’s opinion, likening it to Robert Hur’s controversial remark about Biden, albeit with far more content. Her quip about Nathan Wade’s departure—“You don’t have to go home, Nathan Wade, but you can’t stay here”—drew a parallel to the song “Closing Time,” suggesting that it was time for Wade to step aside.
