Fulton County DA Acknowledges ‘Personal Relationship’ with Prosecutor in Trump Election Interference Case
In a surprising turn of events, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has acknowledged having a “personal relationship” with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, whom she hired to assist in the Georgia election interference case against former President Donald Trump. This revelation comes as the defense has raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest and has called for the dismissal of the case.
Willis hired Wade in November 2021 to investigate whether Trump and others violated any laws in their efforts to overturn his loss in the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. Since then, Wade has led the team of lawyers assembled by Willis to prosecute the case. One notable incident mentioned in the indictment is a phone call on January 2, 2021, in which Trump urged Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to help find the votes needed to overturn his election loss to Joe Biden.
The allegations of a personal relationship between Willis and Wade first surfaced in a filing by a defendant in the case. In response, Wade stated in an affidavit that he and Willis had developed a personal relationship in addition to their professional association and friendship. However, he emphasized that they had never lived together or shared financial accounts or household expenses. He also stated that none of the funds paid to him for his work had been shared with Willis, refuting claims of a conflict of interest.
Wade explained that, as financially independent professionals, they had sometimes made and purchased travel arrangements for each other using personal funds. He asserted that he had no financial interest in the outcome of the election interference case or the conviction of any defendant.
The defense attorney representing Trump co-defendant Michael Roman filed a motion alleging that Willis and Wade’s relationship was inappropriate and created a conflict of interest. The motion claimed that Willis personally profited from the case by paying Wade over $650,000 for his work and benefiting from their shared vacations. Roman requested the dismissal of the case and the removal of Willis and Wade from the prosecution. Trump and another co-defendant, Georgia attorney Robert Cheeley, have also filed motions to join Roman’s effort.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, presiding over the election case, has scheduled a hearing for February 15 to address Roman’s motion. Willis and Wade are among the witnesses subpoenaed to testify at the hearing. However, the Friday filing by Willis’ team asks the judge to dismiss the motions without a hearing, stating that they lack merit.
Steve Sadow, Trump’s lead attorney in the Georgia case, criticized Willis for not providing full transparency and necessary financial details. He accused her of trying to stop the February 15 hearing and asked the judge not to turn a blind eye to her alleged personal and financial misconduct. In response, Merchant argued that a hearing is necessary to cross-examine the prosecution’s claims.
Willis’ team’s filing argues that she has no financial or personal conflict of interest that would justify her removal from the case. It dismisses the allegations as salacious and intended to garner media attention. Legal experts have noted that this response is strong but question why Willis and Wade did not address the allegations sooner.
Critics of Willis, including Trump, have seized on the allegations of a personal relationship to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the case. Trump has accused Willis and prosecutors in three other criminal cases against him of engaging in political attacks. Willis is an elected Democrat who is up for reelection this year, adding a political dimension to the situation.
The defense’s motion also questions Wade’s qualifications to be involved in such a complex prosecution under Georgia’s anti-racketeering law. However, Willis’ response fiercely defends Wade’s qualifications, highlighting his significant trial experience and attaching pictures of awards he has received for his legal work.
During an address at a historic Black church in Atlanta, Willis suggested that questioning Wade’s qualifications and her decision to hire him was rooted in racism. Trump’s attorney rejected this claim, stating that Willis should not be able to make public statements about race and the case without consequences.
The upcoming hearing on February 15 will be crucial in determining the fate of the Georgia election interference case. Both sides will have the opportunity to present their arguments and challenge the opposing party’s claims. As legal experts analyze the developments, it remains to be seen how the personal relationship between Willis and Wade will impact the case’s outcome.
