The special prosecutor in Fulton County’s criminal racketeering case against Donald Trump, Nathan Wade, allegedly purchased plane tickets for DA Fani Willis for shared trips, as shown in credit card statements from a court filing last Friday and reported by NBC News.
Love in Legal Affairs?
Co-defendant Michael Roman in the Trump case had previously accused Wade and Willis of an ‘improper, clandestine personal relationship’ that supposedly led to both benefitting financially from the prosecution at the taxpayers’ expense.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee is set to conduct a hearing regarding these allegations on February 15.
Controversial Credit Card Revelations
The credit card statements that indicated Wade’s purchase of tickets for trips to San Francisco and Miami in 2022 and 2023 were part of a submission by Wade’s estranged wife, Joycelyn Wade, in their ongoing divorce proceedings in Cobb County, Georgia.
The DA’s office has not made any comments about these credit card statements.
Alleged Misuse of Funds
Bob Ellis, a Fulton County Board of Commissioners member, announced on Friday his intention to initiate a comprehensive investigation into the allegations involving DA Fani Willis and her supposed improper relationship with Nathan Wade.
Alleged Romantic Arrangements
Ellis, who is also the chairman of the county’s audit committee, emphasized the inappropriateness of an elected official engaging in a contract or employment arrangement with a romantic partner.
No Room for Favors
He added that even in the absence of a romantic link, accepting lavish gifts or favors from such individuals should be deemed equally improper.
Records Request
Furthermore, Ellis sent a letter to Willis demanding documents regarding the appointment of special prosecutors and their payment records dating back to January 1, 2021.
Defending Professional Image
In a separate development on Thursday, Willis filed a statement accusing Joycelyn Wade of attempting to ‘harass’ her and tarnish her professional image by subpoenaing her for a deposition in the ongoing divorce case.
Accusations in Court
Willis claimed the wife had “conspired with interested parties in the Criminal Election Interference Case to use the civil discovery process to annoy, embarrass and oppress District Attorney Willis.”
Marital Split
In response to the ongoing legal proceedings, the DA has stated that she and Nathan Wade have lived separately since 2021, agreeing that their marriage is beyond repair. She also mentioned her lack of relevant information that could affect the divorce judgment.
Financial Knowledge
On the other hand, Joycelyn Wade, in her filing highlighted by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, contends that Willis has information about her husband’s financial matters. She disclosed that Nathan Wade filed for divorce on November 2, 2021, just a day after Willis appointed him as a special prosecutor.
Lavish Living
The filing details how Nathan Wade abandoned her financially while he indulged in an excessively luxurious lifestyle, spending ‘tens of thousands of dollars’ every month.
Financial Indulgences
The court filing asserts that Nathan Wade has embarked on numerous lavish trips since initiating the divorce, including visits to San Francisco, Napa Valley, Florida, Caribbean cruises, Belize, Panama, and recently Australia.
Alleged Luxury Travel
Notably, the filing highlights that DA Fani Willis intended to accompany him on some of these excursions, as evidenced by flight tickets he purchased for her. The cost of these tickets was relatively substantial, with one nearing $900 and another almost $500.
Seeking Willis’s Deposition
This supports the assertions made by both Michael Roman and Joycelyn Wade of a romantic relationship between Wade and Willis. Joycelyn Wade’s filing seeks Willis’ deposition to clarify the nature of her relationship with Wade, arguing that their joint travels point to a romantic involvement.
‘No reasonable explanation’
As stated, the purpose of the deposition is to “determine details surrounding her romantic affair with Plaintiff, as there appears to be no reasonable explanation for their travels apart from a romantic relationship.”
Case Costs
Last week’s court documents from Roman also reveal that Wade has been compensated $250 per hour for his role in the case, with his law firm receiving at least $550,000 since 2022 for handling the extensive 19-defendant case.
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