Lawyers argue over the chronology of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade's relationship after her shocking testimony Thursday, and claims that appear to contradict the former couple. There was a discussion about.
The defense is seeking testimony from another witness, Terrence Bradley. Terrence Bradley, a former law partner who briefly represented Wade in his divorce, is restricted by attorney-client privilege from revealing what he saw or learned. claims. Defense filings say Bradley also has knowledge that contradicts Willis and Wade's assertion that their relationship didn't begin until after Wade took over as special prosecutor. The charges threaten to derail the Georgia election interference case against former President Donald Trump.
The district attorney's attorney suggested he may call Willis' former friend again, who had shown “hugs, kisses, just affection” between Willis and Wade as early as November 2021, but the relationship I couldn't remember the exact date it started.
Willis was not called to testify again Friday because the district attorney's attorney said the state had no further questions for her.
Mr. Willis' office plans to call at least three new witnesses, including Mr. Willis' father, to the stand to prevent the imposition of airline records. A dispute over who paid for Willis's travels with Wade is at the heart of her suspicions about him.
A lawyer for one of Mr. Trump's co-defendants said Mr. Willis' Delta records may reflect previously private travel between Mr. Willis and Mr. Wade. claims that he benefited from their relationship. Lawyers face allegations of misconduct that could lead to Willis being removed from the case.
Mr. Willis abruptly withdrew his request to avoid testifying Thursday and issued a statement after a former friend challenged the timeline of his relationship with Mr. Wade. Willis acknowledged this month that he had a personal relationship with Wade, but denied it was inappropriate.
“You're confused. You think I'm on trial,” Willis said Thursday in one of several contentious exchanges with lawyers for Trump and his co-defendants. Ta. “These people are on trial for trying to steal the 2020 election. No matter how much you try to put me on trial, I'm not on trial.”
Robin Yearty, who first met Willis in college and worked at the district attorney's office until 2022, said Wade and Willis may have been romantically involved as early as November 2021. He claimed it contradicted the affidavit he signed. However, both prosecutors repeatedly claimed in Thursday's testimony that their relationship began in “early 2022” and ended last year. Mr. Wade has testified that Mr. Willis repaid his travel expenses in cash, a record of which remains in bank records, which Mr. Trump and his co-defendants used to demonstrate that they benefited financially from their relationship with Mr. Wade. I'm trying to present it as evidence that I had obtained it.
Willis' firing will cause major disruption to the massive extortion case against Trump. The time it takes to find a new prosecution team makes it increasingly unlikely that a trial will take place before November's presidential election.
After Wade finished testifying, “I ran to the courtroom,” Willis said. With her appearance, the day took a dramatic turn.
“As I was walking in the office, I heard someone yell that the testimony was over…so I thought it was only natural that I would be your next witness,” she said.
Willis testified for hours at Thursday's hearing, talking about repaying Wade in cash for thousands of dollars in travel expenses they took together and answering detailed questions about the timeline of their relationship.
In August, Willis indicted Trump and 18 co-defendants on charges of conspiring to overturn Georgia's 2020 presidential election. Four defendants pleaded guilty, but Trump, who faces 13 charges, maintained his innocence.
