A Georgia judge ruled that at least two days of televised hearings will be held this week to determine if Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis can preside over the election fraud case against Donald Trump, reports USA Today.

The status of Willis first came into question when it was discovered that she was romantically involved with , one of the principal prosecutors in the Trump case. He is married but is in the process of getting a divorce, according to reports.

During the nearly two-hour hearing on Monday (Feb.12), Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee warned attorneys who are seeking to have both Willis and Wade dismissed − and the case thrown out, that he will not allow allegations to tarnish their reputations.

"If there's anything that is referring to ... harassment or undue embarrassment, I'm not going to feel inhibited from stepping in, even without an objection from counsel, to move this along and keep it focused on the issues at hand," McAfee said.

The decision by McAfee is considered a major blow to Willis and Wade’s prospects of leading the prosecution against Trump and his 14 co-defendants, as their lawyers argued forcibly for the judge to cancel the hearing. With a hearing now scheduled for Thursday (Feb.13), Willis and Wade will have to testify about their relationship.

Wade and Willis in particular have already made the case that they did nothing wrong and that the high-profile prosecution of Trump should be allowed to proceed.

In a recent court filing, Willis and Wade admitted to their involvement in a "personal relationship," but they claim that the affair took place after Wade was already by Willis to become a part of the DA's office in November 2021.

Although Willis and Wade have admitted to being in a relationship, McAfee said, what "remains to be proven" if Willis benefited financially from it, as Michael Roman, a former Trump campaign official who was charged with seven felony counts stemming from his role in the alleged election scheme, claimed in January.

"So because I think it's possible that the facts alleged by the defendant could result in disqualification, I think an evidentiary hearing must occur to establish the record on those core allegations," McAfee noted.

Additionally, McAfee said that the hearing could extend into next week if Willis and Wade are called to the stand and when arguments are heard from both sides.

Ashleigh Merchant, Roman’s attorney, has alleged that Wade used portions of the $650,000 he received in compensation as a special prosecutor “to take Willis on vacations to California wine country, Florida, and Caribbean cruises.” She also alleged that Willis and Wade’s relationship began before he was hired as special prosecutor which created a conflict of interest that “irrevocably taints the case.”

Fulton County prosecutor Anna Cross accused Merchant of making false statements about Willis and Wade.

“I will be shocked if Miss Merchant is able to support that statement. Shocked,” Cross said. “I don't believe that's true.”

Cross also said that Wade and Willis split the costs of their trips together and without the use of taxpayer money paid to Wade and his law firm “as compensation for the Trump case for the vacations.” She went on to say that the DA's office plans to have Willis's father testify remotely from California on Thursday to refute the “wild hearsay” by the defendants including accusing Willis and Wade of sharing a residence during their relationship.

According to sources close to the situation, Trump may decide to attend the hearing, The Washington Post reports.

Steve Sadow, Trump's lawyer also requested for a private conversation with the judge about an undisclosed matter.