Fani Willis, the Fulton County, GA district attorney who brought criminal charges against Donald Trump and a host of other defendants over their efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, can remain on the case, a judge ruled today.

But Judge Scott McAfee wrote in his decision that the special prosecutor with whom Willis had a romantic relationship, Nathan Wade, should step aside.

Although McAfee concluded that there was not sufficient evidence to show that Willis and Wade’s relationship created a conflict of interest, he wrote that the “District Attorney’s prosecution is encumbered by an appearance of impropriety.”

“The Court therefore concludes that the prosecution of this case cannot proceed until the State selects one of two options,” McAfee wrote. “The District Attorney may choose to step aside, along with the whole of her office, and refer the prosecution to the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council for reassignment. … Alternatively, [special prosecutor] Wade can withdraw, allowing the District Attorney, the Defendants, and the public to move forward without his presence or remuneration distracting from and potentially compromising the merits of this case.”

The question of whether Willis could remain has sidelined the criminal case against Trump and other defendants, who face charges including racketeering in their efforts to reverse the state’s results in favor of Joe Biden.

More to come.