Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis admitted she was involved with the special prosecutor she appointed, Nathan Wade. Willis denied that it tainted the case against Trump and co-defenders, though the former president celebrated on Truth Social.
Willis’ 176-page filing
The DA introduced a 176-page filing in response to allegations brought on by one of the co-defendants, Michael Roman. In the filing, Willis wrote that “any personal relationship among members of the prosecution team does not amount to a disqualifying conflict of interest or otherwise harm a criminal defendant.”
No relation to the case
Willis’ office shared that there is “nothing to establish an actual conflict of interest,” and Willis and Wade did not act out “of any personal or financial motivation.”
The timeline of the relationship
The relationship between the Georgia DA and the special prosecutor started an affair after he was hired in November 2021. Wade stated, “In 2022, District Attorney Willis and I developed a personal relationship in addition to our professional association and friendship.”
Merchant alleged the relationship started in 2019
The attorney for Roman Ashleigh Merchant alleged that the affair began in 2019, writing, “They are hoping this Court simply sees all growing smoke cloud and says, ‘No fire, nothing else to see here.” The lawyer added, “It is not that simple.”
Wade’s qualifications
Merchant argued that Wade was underqualified, but Willis responded that the allegations “are factually inaccurate, unsupported, and malicious, in addition to providing no basis whatsoever to dismiss the indictment or disqualify.”
Wade’s salary
Wade, who is divorcing his wife, has reportedly been paid more than $650,000 or around $250 an hour since his hiring. Willis and Wade were accused of “profiting significantly from the prosecution at the expense of taxpayers.” It reportedly includes trips to Napa Valley, San Francisco, and Florida.
Trump joined the disqualification
In late January, the former president joined the motion to disqualify Willis, with the filing saying, in part, that Willis “inappropriately injected race into the case and stoked racial animus” during a speech reacting to Roman’s allegations.
Trump on Truth Social
Following Willis’ acknowledgment of being involved with the special prosecutor, Trump reacted on Truth Social, “THAT MEANS THAT THIS SCAM IS TOTALLY DISCREDITED & OVER.” The former president continued, “By going after the most high-level person, and the Republican Nominee, she was able to get her ‘lover’ much more money, almost a Million Dollars..”
The hearing is scheduled
Judge Scott McAfee, overseeing the case, scheduled a hearing for February 15. A professor of Georgia State University College of Law told the BBC that disqualification “poses a real danger to the work done by the Fulton County DA’s Office.”
Resolving the disqualification issue
Clark Cunningham, a professor of law and ethics at Georgia State University College of Law, told USA TODAY, even before the DA’s admission, “These filings strongly suggest that the disqualification issue will not be resolved as early as the February 15 hearing and could drag on for much longer − even if the DA prevails.”
More reactions
Anthony Michael Kreis, a Georgia State University law professor, told the San Diego Union-Tribune that Willis and Wade should have responded sooner, adding, “As a legal matter, I think it’s done. As a political matter, it still seems a little messy.”
House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed Willis
Committee Chair Jim Jordan issued a subpoena to an unrelated matter hours before Willis admitted to the affair. The subpoena alleges “misuse of federal grant funds” by Willis’ office.
The response
Willis responded, “Any examination of the records of our grant programs will find that they are highly effective and conducted in cooperation with the Department of Justice and in compliance with all Department of Justice requirements.”
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