Legal analyst Elie Honig cautioned on Friday that Fani Willis, the District Attorney of Fulton County, Georgia, had responded to a divorce subpoena in a “very improper” manner and criticized her for using the Trump criminal case as a shield to protect her role in the matter.
Alleged Affair and Investigation
Honig’s comments come amidst swirling allegations of Willis engaged in an affair with a special prosecutor in her office, whom she appointed to investigate Donald Trump’s alleged interference in the Georgia election.
Trump’s Legal Battle
In August, a Georgia grand jury brought forward indictments against Former President Donald Trump and 14 co-defendants, accusing them of criminal racketeering and efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia.
Allegations Vigorously Denied
Trump, a leading figure in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, along with the co-defendants, has pleaded not guilty, vigorously denying these allegations.
Willis’ Legal Battles
Parallel to this high-profile case, Willis faces her own legal challenges. Allegations of an alleged affair with Nathan Wade have raised questions about potential conflicts of interest in her professional duties.
The Accusation’s Origin
The allegations initially surfaced when former Trump staffer Michael Roman, facing seven charges in Georgia, filed a lawsuit, claiming that Willis had “engaged in a personal, romantic relationship” with Wade.
Accusations of Personal Gain
The lawsuit also claimed that she had personally benefited from the alleged affair, implying that she had acted “to defraud the public of honest services.”
Payment Details
According to Roman’s motion filed by his lawyer, Ashleigh Merchant, Wade has been paid more than $650,000 since hiring.
Disqualification Efforts
Roman is attempting to have Willis and Wade disqualified from the trial.
Bank Records Reveal Trips
Adding to Willis’ woes, bank statements submitted as evidence in the divorce proceedings of Nathan Wade and his wife Joycelyn Wade suggest that he paid the expenses for two trips to Miami and San Francisco that included Willis.
No Comments
Willis, since Friday, has refrained from making any comments since the release of the divorce documents.
Racial Bias Allegation
However, last week, the district attorney who hired three prosecutors for the case against Trump denied the accusations and attributed them to racial bias, explicitly singling out Nathan, who is Black.
“Black Man as Qualified”
District Attorney, in last Sunday’s speech at Atlanta church, said, “All three of these special counselors are superstars. But I’m just asking god, is it that some will never see a Black man as qualified no matter his achievements? What more can one achieve? The other two have never been judges. But no one questions their credentials.”
Upcoming Subpoena
Willis now faces a subpoena in Wade’s ongoing divorce proceedings.
Legal Maneuvers to Avoid Testimony
Willis’ attorney, Cinque Axam, filed a motion on Thursday seeking to prevent her testimony in the Wade divorce case, arguing that it constituted a misuse of civil discovery aimed at harassing Willis.
“Irretrievably Broken”
The filing, in part, stated, “Because the parties agree their marriage is irretrievably broken, there is no information that Willis could provide that would be relevant.”
Accusations of Interference
Willis’s attorney accused Jocelyn Wade of attempting to interfere with the district attorney’s case regarding election interference involving former President Donald Trump and other defendants.
Honig’s Sharp Critique
In an interview with CNN on Friday, Honig discussed the potential conflict of interest involving Willis and criticized her response to the subpoena.
A Simple Witness Request
He emphasized that a subpoena is merely a request for witness testimony and should not be conflated with an accusation.
Using Trump Case as a Shield
Honig chastised Willis for attempting to use the Trump criminal case as a shield against her involvement in the divorce case.
DA’s Defensive Strategy
Honig said, “The way the DA responded to that is she took the criminal case against Donald Trump and injected that into the divorce case, trying to use it as a shield from her having to testify. She clearly has relevant information.”
“Very Improper”
He added, “And I think it’s is very improper for her to say, well, you’re trying to interfere with this criminal case. That’s the DA who is using the criminal case as a shield, and I think she’s wrong there.”
Impact on Trump’s Charges
Regarding Trump’s case, Honig believes that the allegations against Willis will not suffice to dismiss the charges against the former president.
Potential Disqualification
However, he acknowledged that a proven conflict of interest could lead to Willis’ disqualification from the case, possibly transferring it to another DA’s office.
Address the Relationship
Meanwhile, the relationship between Willis and Wade is now a matter that the district attorney must address, as stated in a legal filing by Georgia Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee earlier this week.
Written Response to Allegations
Willis is required to provide a written response by February 2 to allegations that she “engaged in a personal, romantic relationship” with Wade, and an evidentiary hearing on this matter is scheduled for February 15.
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