Georgia Judge to Hear Evidence on Alleged Improper Relationship Between District Attorney Fani Willis and Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade in Trump Case

The ongoing legal battle between former President Donald Trump and Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis has taken an unexpected turn with allegations of an improper relationship between Willis and the special prosecutor, Nathan Wade, who was appointed to help prosecute Trump. The controversy has led to a hearing scheduled for Thursday, February 15, 2024, where evidence will be presented to determine if Willis should be disqualified from the case.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee will preside over the evidentiary hearing, which is expected to start at 9:30 a.m. and continue into Friday. The hearing comes after co-defendant Michael Roman filed a motion earlier this year alleging that Willis was engaged in an improper relationship with Wade, who was hired to help prosecute Trump in the sweeping racketeering case.

The allegations against Willis include that she was engaged in a romantic relationship with Wade, and that she financially benefited from his padded taxpayer-funded salary by taking lavish vacations together on his dime. Wade, who has no RICO and felony prosecution experience, has billed Fulton County for $654,000 since January 2022.

Judge McAfee stated on Monday that depending on his findings after hearing the evidence presented from both sides, Willis could be disqualified from the case. He noted that disqualification can occur if evidence is produced demonstrating an actual conflict or the appearance of one. McAfee was appointed to the bench by Republican Governor Brian Kemp in 2021.

Ashleigh Merchant, lawyer for Michael Roman, will take center stage on Thursday in presenting what she believes is enough evidence to disqualify Willis and her team. Terrence Bradley, Wade’s former law partner, will testify first on Thursday. His testimony will determine whether others will be required to testify.

In legal filings last month, Roman alleged that Wade billed Fulton County for 24 hours of work on a single day in November 2021, shortly after being appointed as a special prosecutor, and that Willis financially benefited from her alleged lover’s padded taxpayer-funded salary by taking lavish vacations together on his dime.

Willis responded to the allegations in a court filing and admitted to having a personal relationship with Wade but denied any conflict of interest. She argued that according to Georgia law, in order for a district attorney to be forcibly removed from a case, the conflict of interest has to be harmful to a defendant’s case.

Georgia Whistleblowers lining up to testify against Fulton County DA Fani Willis, state lawmaker says

The controversy surrounding Willis and Wade is not the first time that Willis has faced allegations of misconduct. In December 2022, a group of Georgia whistleblowers came forward with allegations of misconduct against Willis, including retaliation against employees who spoke out against her and a pattern of abusive behavior towards staff. State Senator Greg Dolezal, who is leading the effort to remove Willis from office, said that more whistleblowers are coming forward with evidence of misconduct.

Willis has denied the allegations and claimed that they are politically motivated. She told the Superior Court that while the allegations against her are “salacious,” they have no “merit.” Willis claims that while she and Wade “have been professional associates and friends since 2019,” there was “no personal relationship” between her and Wade in November 2021 at the time of Wade’s appointment, and that Roman and his lawyers “offer no support for their insistence that the exercise of any prosecutorial discretion (i.e., any charging decision or plea recommendation) in this case was impacted by any personal relationship.”

The state has also revealed that DA Willis’ father will be testifying on Thursday, remotely from California.

Brianna Herlihy is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.

The hearing on Thursday is expected to shed light on the allegations against Willis and Wade and could have significant implications for the ongoing legal battle between Trump and Fulton County. The outcome of the hearing could result in Willis being disqualified from the case, which would have a major impact on the prosecution’s ability to move forward.

The controversy surrounding Willis and Wade is just the latest in a series of controversies surrounding the Trump investigation in Georgia. The investigation, which is focused on allegations of election interference in the 2020 presidential election, has been the subject of intense scrutiny and political debate. The hearing on Thursday is sure to add to the controversy and keep the investigation in the spotlight.

In conclusion, the upcoming evidentiary hearing on Thursday, February 15, 2024, is expected to provide important insights into the allegations of an improper relationship between Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade in the Trump case. The outcome of the hearing could have significant implications for the ongoing legal battle between Trump and Fulton County and is sure to keep the investigation in the spotlight.