In a recent filing, the legal team representing a co-defendant in the Georgia election interference case against former President Donald Trump raised concerns about the personal relationship between Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade. The filing suggests that their relationship may have started earlier than previously acknowledged.
In a recent filing to Judge Scott McAfee, the lawyers representing Michael Roman, a co-defendant of Donald Trump, disputed the statement made by the special prosecutor in his affidavit. The lawyers argued that the claim that the relationship between Mr. Roman and the special prosecutor did not begin until 2022 is clearly untrue.
According to Wade’s previous statement, he mentioned that he and Willis established a personal connection in 2022. He clarified that this personal relationship was not present when he was initially brought on board for the significant case involving accusations of attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia, which involved Trump and others.
In her recent filing, Willis included the affidavit where she affirms that any personal relationship among members of the prosecution team does not constitute a disqualifying conflict of interest or harm a criminal defendant.
According to Roman’s lawyers, Wade’s former divorce attorney, Terrence Bradley, will provide evidence to dispute the claim that Wade and Willis did not have a personal, romantic relationship prior to Willis appointing Wade as a special prosecutor.
According to the filing, Bradley possesses personal knowledge that the romantic relationship between Wade and Willis began before Willis assumed the role of district attorney for Fulton County, Georgia in January 2021. This contradicts Wade’s claim in his affidavit that they did not start dating until 2022. Bradley’s testimony confirms that Willis hired Wade after their romantic relationship had already begun.
Bradley stated in the filing that he was aware of the timing of Willis and Wade’s relationship because he had learned about it as Wade’s friend before Wade decided to file for divorce.
According to Roman’s lawyers, Bradley has information that can confirm the regular cohabitation of Willis and Wade at different residences.
Both Willis and Wade did not respond to NBC News’ request for comment on Friday night. Similarly, Bradley also did not provide a comment when requested.
Roman’s lawyers insisted that McAfee should proceed with the planned evidentiary hearing next Thursday, allowing Roman to cross-examine witnesses and present evidence. Earlier, Roman had issued subpoenas to Willis and Wade, but the district attorney’s team quickly filed motions to invalidate them. Both Roman and Trump are working towards dismissing the indictment and disqualifying Willis from the case.
Roman’s lawyers are claiming that Willis and Wade have benefited financially from this case. They are pointing to the money paid to Wade by Willis and the records that show alleged trips taken by the two. The lawyers for the co-defendant argue in their filing that the district attorney has also financially benefited from vacations and hotel stays that are unrelated to the case or her official duties.
The filing argued that the benefits derived from their relationship are tangible, individual, and financial. It also highlighted the inherent conflict between these benefits and the district attorney’s duty to pursue justice. Therefore, regardless of when their relationship commenced, both the district attorney and the special prosecutor will always face this conflict.
According to Wade, he and his partner shared the travel expenses equally.
The district attorney and her office refuted Roman’s claims in a previous filing, asserting that there has never been any direct or indirect financial benefit to District Attorney Willis from her personal relationship with Willis and Wade.
According to a previous filing from Willis’ office, there is no legal basis for disqualifying District Attorney Willis due to any financial conflict of interest. Furthermore, it is stated that there is no personal conflict of interest that would justify her disqualification personally or that of the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office.
Both Roman and Trump, who both face 13 criminal counts, have maintained their innocence in the Georgia election interference case. It is worth noting that four co-defendants have already pleaded guilty in this matter.
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