Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis faces possible disqualification from former President Donald Trump’s Georgia election interference case due to allegations of fraud. If Mr. Willis’ preferred narrative and the timeline it dictates do not hold up in court, the consequences could be worse than simple ouster.
Lawyers for Trump and his co-defendants are looking forward to additional testimony from Terrence Bradley, Nathan Wade’s former partner and divorce attorney. After all, Bradley previously suggested to Ashley Merchant, the attorney for Trump co-defendant Michael Roman, that he began a relationship with Wade before Willis appointed him as lead prosecutor in the Georgia case. Ta.
But during Tuesday’s testimony, Bradley provided the defense with little material to criticize Willis on the technicalities.
Bradley – A lawyer for Trump co-defendant Michael Roman said: “The romantic relationship between Wade and Willis began before Willis was sworn in as district attorney in Fulton County, Georgia, in January 2021.” Mr. Willis took the stand earlier this month at Mr. Willis’s misconduct hearing. When pressed for details of the affair that may have been gleaned from his conversations with Wade, Bradley repeatedly cited attorney-client privilege.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee ruled Monday that after a private meeting with Mr. Bradley, the divorce attorney would have to testify again, this time on a television show with Mr. Willis’ girlfriend. could not withhold material revelations that may have come to light during the exchange. Fundamentals of attorney-client privilege.
McAfee said in an email.
obtained CNN said, “Based on the in-camera hearing with Mr. Bradley, the court believes that the parties have not met their burden of proving that their communications are subject to attorney-client privilege, and therefore “We believe that the trial regarding Mr. Lee can be resumed.” Bradley’s test. ”
Of particular interest to the defense is the schedule of the case. There is a possibility that they had a relationship with Mr. Wade prior to his appointment, which could suggest a conflict of interest.
Shortly after taking the stand Tuesday afternoon, Bradley acknowledged that he claimed in a text message to Roman’s attorney, Ashley Merchant, that Willis and Wade began their relationship before November 2021. Ta. But Bradley told the court he had been “guessing.” When he makes confident claims about Willis and Wade’s relationship.
Defense attorney Richard Rice suggested to Bradley that “‘speculation’ is a type of lawyer term.”
Bradley ostensibly developed selective amnesia during the hearing, indicating that he could not roughly remember when Willis and Wade began dating.
“I don’t know when it started or when it started,” Bradley said.
Throughout Tuesday’s hearing, CNN
shown Judge McAfee focused on when Mr. Bradley said he did not remember or was unable to recall information.
Defense attorneys pressed Bradley on Tuesday, saying it “looks good” to respond to Merchant’s January motion to disqualify Willis, a motion that notes Bradley’s insight on the matter. . Mr Bradley indicated that his response referred to a section of the filing relating to finances relating to his law firm.
“I remember there was a line about the accuracy of the amount my office received and whether it was going to move,” Bradley said.
The defense also emphasized that Bradley failed to flag what he now considered speculative in his motions prior to filing.
Hours of questioning on Tuesday ostensibly yielded no substantive new insights. But the defense may already have enough information to cast doubt on Willis’ desired schedule.
Mr. Willis admitted to the affair in a Feb. 2 court filing, which stated that “Special Prosecutor Wade’s personal relationship with District Attorney Willis did not directly or indirectly affect District Attorney Willis.” It was suggested that Mr. Willis had “never been involved in any financial interests” and that “Mr. Willis has no personal conflicts.” An interest that personally justifies her disqualification or an interest that justifies the disqualification of the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office. ”
The Feb. 2 filing includes an affidavit from Wade that says the affair began after Nov. 1, when Wade was appointed special prosecutor, and that they didn’t start dating until November 2022. Ta. Testifying in court earlier this month, her lovers suggested their romantic relationship lasted from spring 2022 to summer 2023.
But there are some signs that Democratic and Trump prosecutors may have misled the court.
Blaze News previously reported that Robin Yearty, a former “good friend” of Willis and a member of the Fulton County Attorney’s Office, told the court that it was her understanding that Wade and Willis had been romantically involved as early as 2019. It was reported that he said.
Asked whether their relationship was actually romantic, Yerty told Trump’s lawyer Steve Sadow that the two had been “hugging” long before Wade’s appointment in 2021. He said he had observed them “kissing” each other.
In addition to Yearty’s testimony, there appears to be a trove of phone records that suggest Willis and Wade had a closer relationship outside of the timeline than they originally did.
An affidavit filed Friday by Mr. Trump’s lawyers cited data collected from Mr. Wade’s cellphone, showing that Mr. Wade said at least 35 times between January and November 2021, usually in the evening, He claimed to have visited Willis’ home for an extended period of time. On at least two occasions, Wade allegedly came to the Hapeville DA’s office residence late at night and left early in the morning.
Data collected from Wade’s cell phone showed that he and Willis exchanged more than 2,000 phone calls and about 10,000 text messages in 2021, before he took office.
Judge McAfee said he plans to hear arguments on Friday and decide whether to reopen evidence and examine the findings regarding cell phone data.
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