Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) acknowledged in a new court filing Friday that she had a “personal relationship” with the top prosecutor in former President Trump’s Georgia criminal case. But she said that was no reason for her to resign.
President Trump’s co-defendant Michael Roman last month accused Willis and special counsel Nathan Wade for the first time of having a romantic relationship, calling the sweeping election interference prosecution in Georgia “fatally flawed.” he claimed.
Wills responded to these accusations. in court filings On Friday, he wrote that the motion was “despicable” and “aimed at” gaining media attention. She strongly defended Mr. Wade, calling him “a leader more than capable of managing the complexities of this case.”
In Wade’s attached affidavit, he claimed he was only friends with the district attorney before he was hired in 2021.
“In 2022, District Attorney Willis and I developed a personal relationship in addition to our professional relationship and friendship,” Wade acknowledged.
Roman’s motion seeks to have the charges against him dismissed and to prevent Willis, Wade and the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office from continuing to investigate the case. Mr. Hill has requested comment from his own lawyer who joined Mr. Roman’s motion and Mr. Trump’s lawyer.
At about the same time, Wade’s estranged wife raised the issue in her ongoing divorce case. Later, while the district attorney investigated Mr. Trump and his allies, Joycelyn Wade’s lawyers revealed bank transactions that appeared to include plane tickets to San Francisco and Miami in their names. I submitted a detailed statement.
In Friday’s filing, Willis denied profiting from his relationship with Wade.
“To be absolutely clear, Special Counsel Wade’s personal relationship with District Attorney Willis has never directly or indirectly resulted in financial benefit to District Attorney Willis.” It is stated in the submitted documents.
Wade’s wife subpoenaed Willis for a deposition in their divorce case, but that testimony was put on hold indefinitely after the Wades reached a temporary agreement to resolve the matter. has been done. Andrea Hastings, one of Joycelyn Wade’s attorneys, previously accused Willis of “trying to hide behind his position” as district attorney to avoid testifying.
The revelations threw a curveball at the Willis office’s prosecution of the former president, making it one of four criminal charges Trump faces as he seeks to return to the White House. President Trump said his own case was “completely compromised.”
Ahead of Willis’ response, Trump’s lead attorney in Georgia, Steve Sadow, asked Thursday whether the district attorney would respond to accusations that he went on a personal trip with Wade, and whether Willis was aware of anyone else in the office. He asked in public if he would reveal whether he knew about the relationship.
“Will the answers directly answer or circumvent these factual questions,” Sadow wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Willis’ approval of the relationship Friday came on the day of a judge’s deadline for the district attorney to respond to Roman’s motion. A hearing is scheduled for February 15, when lawyers for Mr. Roman, Mr. Trump and at least one other co-defendant will seek to disqualify Mr. Willis.
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