A judge on Monday released court records from Nathan Wade's divorce proceedings, the special prosecutor in charge of Georgia's election interference case against former President Donald Trump, and Fulton County District Attorney Fannie Willis, who is presiding over the case. He ordered that a decision on whether to accept the trial be delayed. Exiled.
Judge Henry Thompson of Georgia's Cobb County Superior Court ruled to vacate an earlier order keeping records of the divorce proceedings sealed. That's what Ashley Merchant, an attorney representing Michael Roman, a former Trump campaign staffer and former White House aide, is asking the court to do.
“We find that the advance order was not properly entered as the Uniform Superior Court rules require a hearing, even though it was by consenting parties. Such a hearing I have found no evidence that this was ever done, so I am going to grant it.'' “This is a motion to quash the consent order sealing the records, and we will do it today. ,” Thompson said. The judge then said Mr. Merchant could be removed from the hearing.
Mr. Thompson later wrote to Mr. Willis' attorney, Cinque Axum, that the court had not yet decided whether the Fulton County attorney would be removed. Willis' deposition was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but the judge first wanted to hear directly from Nathan Wade about the alleged affair during an evidentiary hearing in the divorce case scheduled for Jan. 31. Stated.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis speaks during a service at Big Bethel AME Church in Atlanta on Sunday, January 14, 2024. (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, via AP)
“Mr. Wade will likely be the first and best source of information about his income and how he spends it. We will also learn first-hand whether he is having an extramarital affair,” Thompson said. . “I think it's only after hearing Mr. Wade's opinion that we can determine whether the prospective defendants have unique knowledge on these issues, because again, this is a math problem, and we Because you need to find a solution to.”
“That being said, I am not ready. Mr. Axum, I am not prepared to grant your non-disclosure order. However, the deposition is set for tomorrow and I Their first evidentiary hearing is set for the 31st, so I issue a stay order,'' the judge continued. “And I will hold the deposition until I am in a better position to determine whether the proposed defendant has unique knowledge, a unique presence, keywords there that Mr. Wade himself does not have. I’m going to put it on hold.”
A motion filed last week by defense attorneys in the election case alleges that Willis had a romantic relationship with attorney Nathan Wade.
Special Counsel Nathan Wade listens during a motions hearing in former President Trump's election interference case, Friday, January 12, 2024, in Atlanta. (Ilya Neuberge/Washington Post, via AP, Pool)
Axum wrote in Thursday's filing that an attorney for Wade's wife, Joycelyn Wade, served the subpoena on the district attorney last week.
The filing said the subpoenas were sought “for the purpose of harassing and damaging” Willis' professional reputation, and that Joycelyn Wade “conspired with other parties of interest in a criminal election interference case.” “They used the civil discovery process to embarrass, embarrass, and inconvenience Mr. Willis.” And he cracked down on the district attorney.
In a court filing Thursday, Axum said attempts to question Willis were “interfering with and obstructing” the ongoing criminal case and asked for the subpoena to be revoked.
Joycelyn Wade's attorney, Andrea Hastings, said she wants to help her “resolve the divorce fairly and privately.”
In a response filed Friday, Hastings said that since Nathan Wade filed for divorce, he has traveled to San Francisco, Napa Valley, Florida, Belize, Panama, Australia, and taken a Caribbean cruise. , Willis wrote, “was an intentional travel partner for at least some people.” These trips are illustrated by the plane tickets he purchased to accompany her. ”
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The filing states that after Nathan Wade was hired as special counsel, he purchased a plane ticket for himself and Willis to travel to Miami in October 2022 and a flight to San Francisco in their names in April. Contains a credit card statement showing that the ticket was purchased. Joycelyn Wade's filing states that she sought to question Willis about her “romantic relationship” with Nathan Wade, and that “there appears to be no reasonable explanation for their trip other than a romantic relationship.” It has been stated.
Trump and 18 of his allies have been indicted in Georgia over efforts to overturn his defeat in the state's 2020 election, with prosecutors using statutes typically associated with mobs. It accused the former president, his lawyers and other aides of a “criminal enterprise” to keep him in place. Power.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
