Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis recently defended her personal relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade during a hearing related to allegations of election interference prosecution against former President Donald Trump and his allies. The hearing aimed to determine if the district attorney’s office should be disqualified from the case due to the relationship between Willis and Wade.
The defense, led by Trump campaign operative Michael Roman, argued that their relationship makes the indictment “fatally defective.” Both Willis and Wade took the stand to defend their relationship, stating that it began in early 2022. However, they struggled to provide precise dates for the start and end of their relationship. Willis mentioned that they had a “tough conversation” in August 2023, which she considered the end of their relationship.
Despite the end of their romantic involvement, both Willis and Wade described each other as “good friends.” However, their relationship timeline was challenged by testimony from Robin Yeartie, a former friend of Willis, who claimed their relationship began in 2019.
The defense also questioned Willis’s financial dealings with Wade, pointing to joint vacations and other trips for which they claim Wade paid. Willis and Wade maintained that they divided their travel expenses evenly, with Willis often paying in cash. However, the defense suggested that their cash system doesn’t “pass the smell test.”
These allegations against Willis and Wade have been a point of contention in the election interference case against Trump, raising concerns about the public’s confidence in the case. Earlier, a Georgia judge ordered the unsealing of Wade’s divorce case records following a defense lawyer’s request indicating a possible inappropriate relationship between Willis and Wade. However, the unsealed records did not contain any reference to the alleged affair.
Despite the controversy, Willis had previously defended Wade’s qualifications in the state’s case against Trump amid misconduct allegations. Both Willis and Wade have denied any conflict of interest arising from their relationship.
The hearing continues, and the outcome will determine whether the district attorney’s office will remain involved in the election interference prosecution against Trump and his allies. These allegations and the ongoing controversy surrounding them have the potential to impact the public’s perception of the case and its credibility.
