And President Trump Gets an Unexpected Christmas Gift
We have great news to report!
Today, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis was disqualified and removed from prosecuting Donald Trump and his co-defendants in a politically charged case she brought for alleged election interference related to the 2020 presidential election. His co-defendants included our good friend, Chaplain Stephen Lee.
He shared the good news with us this morning via email, stating:
Dear Illinois Family Institute Friends,
My Atlanta attorney David Oles called me this morning with wonderful news. The Georgia appellate court just ruled to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the “lawfare” prosecution case against me and others including President-elect Donald Trump. My attorney in effect says that, although not dismissing the case, this appellate decision means no other Georgia prosecutor will want to touch this can of worms with a ten-foot pole, which amounts to an eventual case collapse.
Here I want to express my deepest appreciation to David Smith and the Illinois Family Institute family for your love and support from day one of this lawfare nightmare. For example, helped in large part by your support, I was able to remain free from unjust booking into the dangerous Fulton County Jail. I encourage all IFI constituents, especially now at year’s end, to renew your generous support for IFI’s lifegiving, life-preserving and life-protecting work, including protecting my own. My family and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
Blessings this Christmas Season!
Chaplain Steve Lee
To be clear, this ruling is not a dismissal of the indictment. The Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia will be tasked with the decision to pursue the case and find another prosecutor to replace Willis.
However, there’s also the possibility that the Council will not act at all. With Willis disqualified, the case could be reassigned to another prosecutor, but this process is likely to cause further delays. Given Trump’s upcoming inauguration in January 2025, the case’s continuation during his presidency is uncertain, especially considering federal precedents and immunity discussions. Time will tell.
It’s the latest legal victory for Trump as he prepares for a return to power in a second term, further underscoring how criminal cases that just one year ago threatened to impede Trump’s political career and put him in personal jeopardy have now tilted in his favor.
And Trump’s team cheered the state court’s decision.
“In granting President Trump an overwhelming mandate, the American People have demanded an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and a swift dismissal of all the Witch Hunts against him. We look forward to uniting our country as President Trump Makes America Great Again,” spokesperson Steven Cheung said.
Background
As you’ll recall, in August of 2023, an Atlanta grand jury indicted Donald Trump and 18 others of participating in a wide-ranging scheme to overturn Trump’s narrow 2020 presidential loss. Four have plead guilty after reaching deals with prosecutors.
Attempts to get Willis removed and the case dismissed based on her romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade and improper public statements that she made about the case were unsuccessful.
Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee ruled that while no conflict of interest existed, the prosecution was “encumbered by an appearance of impropriety, and that Willis could remain as the prosecutor as long as Wade left. Wade resigned.
Many of you met Chaplain Lee at one of the fundraisers IFI hosted and many donated to help cover his mounting defense attorney costs, for which he is very grateful.
