Former President Donald Trump on Friday filed a request for new evidence in his Georgia election interference case based on Fulton County Attorney Nathan Wade's cell phone records. Wade visited the home of Fulton County District Attorney Fannie Willis about 35 times during the period, according to the filing. His 11 months in 2021.
This record could be used to dispute claims about the chronology of Willis and Wade's relationship.
Mr. Trump's new filings came after an evidentiary hearing in an effort to have Mr. Willis and Mr. Wade disbarred from the case, in which Mr. Willis and Mr. Wade revealed that their romantic relationship began last week. Wade testified under oath that this was after he was officially hired in November. 2021, and the relationship started in 2022.
“Prior to that, I did not consider my relationship with him to be romantic,” Willis testified regarding Wade's employment.
Trump's co-defendant Michael Roman and several other co-defendants accused Willis of profiting financially from his “personal and romantic relationship” with Wade, whom Willis hired for the case. They are seeking his disqualification from the election lawsuit.
Mr. Willis and Mr. Wade acknowledged their relationship, but in court filings said it “does not constitute a disqualifying conflict of interest” and that the relationship “provides direct or indirect financial support to District Attorney Willis.” “It has never brought any real benefit.” Willis testified that she used cash to pay off travel reservations on Wade's credit card.
Cell phone records also show Wade exchanged thousands of phone calls and text messages with Willis in 2021, according to Trump's new filing.
Trump's Friday filing is based on an affidavit from a criminal investigator who said he conducted an analysis of AT&T phone records subpoenaed by Wade from January to November 2021.
Investigator Charles Mittelstadt claims to have analyzed “every phone interaction” between Wade and Willis during this period, finding more than 2,000 phone calls and nearly 12,000 phone calls during that 11-month period. text messages have been revealed. Most of them were probably from before. Wade was hired.
Mittlestadt said he also investigated the “location activity” on Wade's cell phone and found that it was connected to a tower near Willis' home in Hapeville, Ga., for “an extended period of time.” He said that “at least” 35 cases had been uncovered. He is said to have been alive at the time.
“Data revealed that he was stationary and not moving,” the affidavit states.
“We can only respond through a court filing, and we are preparing to do so,” a Fulton County District Attorney's Office spokesperson said in a statement.
During an evidentiary hearing last week, Wade specifically disputed allegations that he frequently visited Willis' home in 2021.
When Trump's lawyer Steve Sadow asked if he had been to Willis' apartment “more than 10 times” by November 2021, Trump said “no.”
Isn't it less than 10 times? Sadow asked.
“Yes, sir,” Wade replied.
“If the phone records reflect multiple phone calls made from the same location as the apartment complex before November 1, 2021, are the phone records incorrect?” Sadow asked.
“They would be wrong,” Wade later responded.
In one instance, in September 2021, before Wade was hired on the case, investigators allege in an affidavit that Wade went to Willis' address in the middle of the night.
Specifically, investigators say in the affidavit that Wade's cell phone arrived near Willis' apartment in September 2021 at 10:45 p.m. and remained there until approximately 3:30 a.m. He claims records show he stayed. Investigators said Wade's cell phone was returned near the apartment just after 4:05 a.m., and records show Wade “sent a text message to Willis at 4:20 a.m.” claimed that it had been done.
A filing from Trump's lawyers says Mittlestadt is “available to testify at the convenience of the court.”
Mittlestadt said in his affidavit that he used a tool called CellHawk to analyze the phone data, which he said is “considered by law enforcement to be the gold standard for cell phone record analysis.” Ta.
Meanwhile, Wade is seeking to prevent the judge in the case from questioning his former lawyer, lawyer Terrence Bradley, behind closed doors, giving him information protected by his lawyers. The lawsuit alleges that the disclosure “may be unlawfully forced.” Client privileges.
Defense attorneys say they have evidence that the relationship between Wade and Willis began before Wade was hired. Bradley, citing attorney-client privilege, said in a hearing last week that the relationship between Wade and Willis began before Wade was hired. refused to answer most questions.
Justice Scott McAfee said “questions remain” as to whether Mr. Bradley had “properly interpreted privilege” and said Mr. Bradley should be examined privately and whether anything related He said the evidentiary process could be resumed if it becomes clear.
Trump and 18 others in August pleaded not guilty to all charges in a wide-ranging racketeering indictment for allegedly trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.
Kenneth Chesebro, Sidney Powell, Jenna Ellis and Scott Hall then entered into plea deals in exchange for agreeing to testify against the other defendants.
