ATLANTA (AP) — A Georgia judge is deciding whether to fire Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. election interference case against the former president donald trump A hearing focusing on details of Willis' case is scheduled for Thursday. personal relationship Along with the special prosecutor she hired.
Soon after allegations surfaced that she had an inappropriate romantic relationship with Willis. attorney nathan wade Speculation about the future of the incident began after it surfaced last month. Even if the prosecution doesn't falter, the uproar has certainly caused unwanted confusion for Willis and his team, and could undermine public confidence in the legitimacy of the case.
The defense attorney who first disclosed the relationship has asked the judge to drop the charges and bar Willis, Wade and their firm from further involvement in the case, saying it creates a conflict of interest. In a plea filed earlier this month, Willis acknowledged a “personal relationship” but said it was unrelated to the serious criminal charges she is pursuing and told a judge she would not be able to hear the case. They asked that the petition for disqualification be dismissed without holding a meeting.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee said during Monday's hearing that the law “allows for disbarment to occur if evidence of an actual conflict or appearance of a conflict is presented.” He believes that “because the facts asserted by the defendant could lead to disqualification, I believe an evidentiary hearing should be held to establish the record regarding these core allegations.”
The highly anticipated hearing, like all court proceedings in this case, will Judge's YouTube Channelas well as by news organizations.
In his run for reelection to the White House, the former president used the revelations of the relationship to repeatedly refer to Wade as Mr. Willis. “Lover” or “Boyfriend” They sought to cast doubt on Willis' motives and the legitimacy of the incident.Other Republicans continue to use it to justify his claims. call for an investigation Sanctions and penalties against Democratic Rep. Willis, who is seeking re-election this year.
The original motion was filed by Michael Roman, a former Trump campaign staffer and former White House aide. Trump and several other co-defendants I joined a movement of my own.
Roman alleges that Willis was hired in November 2021 to manage an investigation into whether Trump and others committed crimes in an effort to overturn Trump's loss in the 2020 Georgia election. , Mr. Wade claims they were in a romantic relationship. The investigation led to the indictment in August of Trump and 18 others on charges of participating in a massive illegal scheme to keep Trump in office.
Four of those charged have already pleaded guilty after reaching agreements with prosecutors. Trump and all 14 others have maintained their innocence.
Roman said Willis paid Wade more than $650,000 for her work, and that Wade used the money to take her on expensive vacations, including a Bahamas cruise and trips to Aruba, Belize and Napa Valley. He claims that he personally benefited from taking her to the United States. His filing also questions Wade's qualifications for the job, saying there is no evidence he has ever prosecuted a felony or handled an extortion case.
Less than a week after Roman's complaint was filed, Willis used a speech at a historic black church in Atlanta to Strongly defends Wade's qualifications. and her own decision to hire him. She did not mention her alleged relationship in her speech and waited nearly three more weeks to acknowledge her “personal relationship” in her court filing.
Attached to the application is an affidavit from Wade, which says the personal relationship began in 2022, when Wade was already working as a special prosecutor. His statement also said that he and Willis' travel expenses were “split approximately evenly” and that Willis “received no funds or personal financial benefit” from his position as special counsel.
McAfee said Thursday's hearing should examine “whether a relationship existed, whether that relationship was romantic or non-romantic in nature, when it was formed, and whether it continues.” Ta. These questions only make sense, he said, “in combination with the question of the existence and extent of personal interests conveyed as a result of the relationship.”
Roman's attorney, Ashley Merchant, Summoned Willis, Wade, seven employees of the district attorney's office, and others, including Wade's former business partner Terrence Bradley. Merchant told McAfee on Monday that Bradley's romantic relationship with Willis and Wade began before Wade was hired as special prosecutor, and that the county was paying for Willis to stay at the house. He said he would testify that they had spent time together.
Willis sought to quash those subpoenas. She argued that Mr. Roman's efforts to subpoena people in his office “suggests that he is focused on public narrative rather than legal remedies,” and that Mr. Bradley He argued that everything he knew was protected by attorney-client privilege because he once served as Mr. Wade's divorce attorney. McAfee declined Monday to revoke those subpoenas, but she agreed to resubpoena Mr. Bradley after his testimony.
The judge acknowledged that some of the details that may arise during Thursday's hearing were of a personal nature, and if any amounted to “harassment or undue embarrassment,” “Even if there is no objection, I don't think that would prevent us from intervening.” Lawyers are asking us to move forward with this and stay focused on the issue at hand. ”
McAfee also made it clear that he believes the debate over Wade's qualifications is moot, saying that as long as the attorney “has a heartbeat and a bar card,” it's up to the district attorney to hire Wade. He said it was within his discretion.
