Tensions reached a boiling point on Thursday after Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis took the stand in an evidentiary hearing probing the extent of her personal relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade.
The hearing marks a critical moment for the Georgia election interference case against former president Donald Trump that could drastically change the course of the proceedings. The stakes of the misconduct case were on full display after Willis’ impassioned outbursts on the stand while defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant questioned her.
“You think I’m on trial,” Willis told Merchant, who is representing Michael Roman, a co-defendant facing criminal charges in the interference case led by Willis. “I am not on trial no matter how hard you try to put me on trial.”
Willis hired Wade in 2021 to work on the racketeering case against Trump and more than a dozen of his allies who are accused of trying to overturn Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results. Roman, through his attorney, alleged in a motion that Wade misused taxpayer money that he was paid while on the case to fund vacations around the world for himself and Willis.
The hearing was called to determine if the allegations of misuse of public funds are indeed true and if Willis could face criminal or other penalties. Also at stake is Willis’ assignment on the case. If the judge rules in favor of Roman’s motion, Willis will be disqualified, which would potentially jeopardize the entire case.
Willis admitted earlier this month that she and Wade had a romantic relationship but firmly denied any wrongdoing, calling the allegations listed in Roman’s motion “complete conjecture.”
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, who is overseeing the election subversion case, will have to decide whether Willis and Wade financially benefited from the case.
The hearing became tense as soon as Willis took the stand.
“Did you hear any of…
Read the full article here
