Fani Willis needs to quit if she has any 'real interest' in convicting Trump: Dem lawyer

If Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis wants to get a conviction in Donald Trump's Georgia election interference trial, she should either resign from the case or recuse herself, according to Democratic attorney Julian Epstein.

Epstein, the former Democratic Chief Counsel at the House Judiciary Committee, made the comments during an appearance on the Fox News' The Brian Kilmeade Show, saying that if Willis had "any real interest in this case," she would immediately "resign or recuse herself from it."

"This is an utter embarrassment. I mean, this looks to me, in my opinion, this was a kickback scheme, where she hired a boyfriend who was then providing her all kinds of benefits," he said.

"I think the whole claim about the reimbursements is hard to believe. I think the claims about when the relationship began, I think those are very hard to believe," Epstein said, referring to the widely covered romantic affair Willis admitted to having with lead prosecutor Nathan Wade, who she hired onto the case.

Willis has been accused of financially benefitting from the relationship due to alleged gifts Wade gave her that were paid for with the salary he earned. He resigned after an ethics hearing with Judge Scott McAfee ended with him ruling Willis can remain on the case only if Wade goes.

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"I think the judge was right to allow the Trump team to appeal. And, I think there's not just that question about whether she should be kicked off the case," Epstein continued. "So I think there's a question potentially about perjury, moving forward that the state could take up the legislature is going to look into. So I think there is, I mean, just the, you know, the standard in Georgia is the major conflict or the apparent civil conflict."

Epstein went on to say that at any rate, the case "is an utter embarrassment for, the crowd that is prosecuting Trump in the 11th hour of this campaign."