Who is Ashleigh Merchant, the attorney who led the effort to oust Fani Willis?

Ashleigh Merchant, an Atlanta attorney representing one of Donald J. Trump’s co-defendants, demanded “justification” Friday for her efforts to try Fulton County District Attorney Fani T. Willis on the election interference case. to have Georgia rejected.

“The judge clearly agreed with the defense that Willis’ actions are the result of her poor judgment,” Ms. Merchant said in a statement, “and that there is a risk to the future of this case if she does not act quickly . to heal her conflict.”

Ms. Merchant was the main force behind the effort to disqualify the district attorney on the grounds that her relationship with Nathan J. Wade, the lawyer she hired to handle the Trump case, posed a financial conflict of interest.

Although Judge Scott McAfee ruled on Friday that Ms. Willis could remain on the case, he sharply criticized her ruling and said Mr. Wade must recuse himself or Ms. Willis would have to resign. But he also said defense lawyers had failed to prove a conflict — and had only shown the appearance of a conflict. Ms Willis and Mr Wade have not yet commented on the ruling.

Ms. Merchant, 46, threw the Trump case into turmoil in early January when she revealed the relationship between the plaintiffs in a court filing. That set off a series of hearings that turned the table on the accusers, forcing them to take their stand and ask pointed questions about their relationship and finances.

Ms. Merchant, a graduate of the University of Florida and its law school, who represents Michael Roman, a former Trump campaign official charged in the election interference investigation, emerged from the hearings with a national profile and appeared in court as intense and unyielding. with a quick questioning style.

She and her husband, John Merchant, have their own office, and Mrs. Merchant recently became president of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. She is well connected in local legal circles and used those connections to depose Ms. Willis.

Ms. Merchant knew that Mr. Wade was friends with his former partner and divorce lawyer Terrence Bradley, whom she called to testify. Although Mr. Bradley proved to be an extremely reluctant witness, text messages between Ms. Merchant and Mr. Bradley discussing the plaintiffs’ romantic relationship were among the most scrutinized evidence in the disqualification efforts.

As the hearings progressed, the prosecution team launched scathing attacks on Ms Merchant; Ms. Willis said in her testimony: “Ms. The interests of the merchant are contrary to democracy.” During one of the hearings, Ms Merchant told the judge: “They have far from called me a liar today.”