The defendant in the Georgia election interference case involving former President Trump alleges in a new court filing that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) and a top prosecutor in the case had an “inappropriate” romantic relationship. He argued that the indictment was “fatally flawed.” ”
Mike Roman, the Philadelphia-based political operative who served as director of Election Day activities for President Trump's 2020 reelection campaign and is facing seven criminal charges, said he had no hard evidence of the accusations. did not provide.
Roman's attorney, Ashley Merchant, said in court papers that “sources close to” both Willis and special counsel Nathan Wade have confirmed that the two have an “ongoing personal and romantic relationship.” He argued that this suggests that
“Summary motions are not filed lightly, nor are they filed without sufficient forethought, study, and investigation,” Merchant wrote.
The Hill has reached out to the District Attorney's Office and Roman's attorney for comment.
Trump co-defendants claim Willis and Wade travel together to “traditional vacation destinations” such as the Caribbean and Napa Valley and have been seen together in private “around Atlanta.” The filing did not include any documentation regarding these alleged trips.
The filing also claims that “sources close to both the special counsel and the district attorney” said a personal relationship existed between the two before the election interference case began. Hill has not independently verified these claims.
Mr. Wade, who worked in a private firm, was hired by the district attorney's office to help prosecute election interference cases that resulted in Mr. Trump and 18 others being indicted in a wide-ranging indictment last August.
Wade was paid about $654,000 in legal fees in 2022 and 2023 for his work on the investigation, according to county records. Records show the District Attorney's Office authorized these funds.
Mr. Roman's lawyers argue that the arrangement constitutes an irrevocable conflict of interest, and are seeking to dismiss the charges and prevent Mr. Willis, Mr. Wade and the Fulton County District Attorney's Office from proceeding with the case.
“Wade benefits personally and financially from his personal relationship with Willis, as he receives significant amounts of money under his ongoing contract with Willis,” the motion states. ing. “Because he continues to be motivated to prosecute this case based on personal and financial motives, he has acquired a unique personal interest or interest in the continued prosecution of Mr. Roman. Mr. Roman will continue to make exorbitant amounts of money, which is why he is motivated to prosecute for as long as possible.”
Roman, a relatively low-profile defendant in the case, faces seven charges for allegedly helping arrange a December 2020 meeting in which pro-Trump electors signed Electoral College documents. he pleaded not guilty.
“While it is not our intention to find a way to indict the prosecutors, we need to let the court know that the actions of the two lead district attorneys in this case definitely constituted a federal crime,” Merchant said. wrote in the article. filing.
Another co-defendant in the case, pro-Trump lawyer Kenneth Chesebro, had sought to have the charges dismissed by arguing that Wade failed to file a professional oath on time, but the judge ruled The motion was dismissed.
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