Subpoenas Expected for Law Partners in Georgia Election Subversion Case
In a new development in the ongoing 2020 election subversion case in Georgia, current and former law partners to special prosecutor Nathan Wade have been informed that they should anticipate subpoenas to testify at an upcoming hearing. The hearing, scheduled for February 15, will address the alleged affair and financial ties between Wade and district attorney Fani Willis, who brought the case. It is expected that Willis herself will also be subpoenaed, along with potentially other members of her office. The hearing was called by the Fulton County judge overseeing the case against former President Donald Trump and his allies, in response to claims made by one of Trump’s co-defendants, Mike Roman. Roman’s defense attorney argues that Willis financially benefited from her relationship with Wade, which raises concerns about a conflict of interest.
While the allegations against Willis and Wade are not expected to derail the overall case, they have caused a significant distraction and given Trump and his allies an opportunity to criticize the justice system. Roman has argued that the entire criminal case against him should be dismissed due to the alleged conflict of interest. The evidence to be presented at the hearing will depend on Willis’ response to the allegations. Willis is likely to fight any subpoenas issued against her or her staff, as she is already attempting to quash a subpoena to be deposed in Wade’s divorce proceeding. Although Willis has requested a trial date in August, none has been set yet.
One notable aspect of this case is that all hearings are live-streamed, including any witness testimony regarding the alleged romantic relationship between Willis and Wade. This has led to immense public scrutiny since the allegations came to light. Michael Moore, a former US Attorney in Georgia and CNN legal analyst, stated that while the allegations are not necessarily fatal to the case, they have become a distraction and a circus. Moore believes that the judge may take control of the hearing to limit the distraction and prevent it from turning into a spectacle.
Both Willis and Wade have not directly addressed the affair allegations. However, Willis spoke at a church congregation on January 14, stating that Wade is qualified for the job and suggesting that her adversaries are targeting her and Wade because of their race. Despite having more experienced felony prosecutors on her staff, Willis appointed Wade to the post in 2021 as her investigation into Trump and his allies was intensifying. According to court filings from Roman, Wade has earned over $650,000 for his work on the election case, more than other prosecutors in the district attorney’s office.
The potential explosive witness testimony at the upcoming hearing has raised concerns for both Willis and Wade. The testimony will be witnessed by an audience that extends beyond the courtroom due to the live-streaming of the hearings. Roman’s defense attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, prefers to focus on the issue of potential financial impropriety rather than the alleged romantic relationship itself. She believes that the real issue is the conflict of interest and the appearance of impropriety that comes with having Wade on the team and presenting the case to the grand jury.
In recent days, Merchant and her team have uncovered more evidence supporting their claims, including confirming that the trips taken by Willis and Wade were personal vacations and not work-related business trips. Further investigation revealed that Wade purchased airline tickets for himself and Willis for trips to Miami in October 2022 and San Francisco in April 2023. There were also payments made to cruise lines and hotels in Aruba and Napa Valley, although details about those trips are not available in court records. The evidence of personal vacations adds weight to the claims of financial impropriety.
The outcome of this hearing will have significant implications for the 2020 election subversion case in Georgia. While it is unlikely to completely derail the case against Trump and his co-defendants, it has certainly caused a distraction and allowed Trump and his allies to question the integrity of the justice system. The live-streaming of the hearings ensures that the public can follow the proceedings closely, adding to the scrutiny surrounding the case. As the date of the hearing approaches, all eyes will be on the courtroom to see how these allegations and conflicts of interest will play out.
