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ATLANTA – Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis acknowledged Friday that she had a romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, but said she has done nothing wrong in the election fraud case against 14 people, including former President Donald Trump. He said he would not resign.
“To be absolutely clear, Special Counsel Wade’s personal relationship with District Attorney Willis has never involved any direct or indirect financial interest in District Attorney Willis.” Willis said in a court filing.
She asks Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee to remove former Trump campaign official Michael Roman, Wade and the entire district attorney’s office from the case and cancel a Feb. 15 hearing on the dispute. It asked for the complaint to be “briefly” dismissed. Willis and Wade may be called to testify.
Wade also denied any conflict of interest.
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“In 2022, District Attorney Willis and I developed a personal relationship in addition to our professional association and friendship,” Wade said in court papers filed Friday. “I have no financial interest in the outcome of the 2020 election interference case or the defendant’s conviction.”
Both men said the case began after Willis hired Wade for the high-profile job of overseeing a massive extortion investigation and prosecution of the former president and 2024 Republican front-runner.
Trump presidential election accusations and fraud allegations
Willis has indicted Trump and a number of other lawyers, campaign officials and election officials for allegedly trying to overturn Joe Biden’s 2020 victory in the state.
On January 8, lawyers for former Trump campaign official Michael Roman asked a court to disqualify Willis, Wade and the entire district attorney’s office over their alleged relationship. Roman also accused Wade of using some of the more than $650,000 he received to take Willis on cruises in California, Florida and the Caribbean. Trump and another co-defendant joined the motion late last month.
President Trump and Republicans in Georgia and Congress pursued fraud allegations targeting Willis and her election prosecution. On Friday, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, subpoenaed Willis and demanded documents about how his office spends federal funds.
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“Speculation and innuendo”
In a filing in Atlanta on Friday, Ms. Willis said Ms. Roman had shown no conflicts of interest that would keep her away from the case.
“Although the allegations raised in the various motions are salacious and designed to garner media attention, they provide no basis for forcing this court to order the relief they seek,” Willis wrote in a 167-page document. We have nothing to offer.” “The evidence and facts clearly demonstrate that District Attorney Willis has no financial conflict of interest that would provide a legal basis for disqualification.”
Willis criticized Roman for using “speculation and innuendo” in attacking his private relationship with Wade.
more:Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis breaks silence about prosecutors in Donald Trump case
Willis: Defense attorney also involved in ‘personal relationship’
“It’s disgusting that these allegations have to be answered,” Willis said, but acknowledged that she had a personal friendship and a business relationship with Wade that turned into a romantic relationship. But she said her turning point came after she hired him as special prosecutor in November 2021.
As a result, Willis wrote, Roman, Trump and the other defendant were unable to show prosecutors “how they were influenced by their personal relationships.” Without these additional factors, the very existence of a relationship between members of the prosecution team does not entitle a criminal defendant to any relief. ”
Willis then tried to turn the tables on the accusers, suggesting there was a romantic partnership between the attorneys in the election case.
“It’s remarkable,” Willis added. “At least two of the attorneys representing the defendants have personal relationships, which would almost certainly necessitate disbarment according to the standards sought by Rome’s motion.”
more:Donald Trump joins effort to exonerate Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis from election interference case
The jury is still out on Willis and Wade.
Commentators and the defendants in the case are likely to focus on Willis’ carefully worded legal language, with Wade’s appointment announced on November 1, 2021, and his marriage to his wife of more than 26 years. Some point out that he has filed for divorce from his late wife Joycelyn. Wade, the next day.
Some legal experts, including former President Obama’s ethics coach Norm Eisen, said Willis and Wade’s actions do not appear to violate Georgia election law or legal ethics. .
Ryan Goodman, a law professor at New York University School of Law, said Friday that he has criticized Willis and Wade for garnering so many bad headlines, but the extensive court filing explains why they should remain. He said he has presented a solid legal argument as to whether this is the case.
“This should end the problem,” Goodman said on X (formerly Twitter).
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Willis: “We need to retreat”
People like Clark Cunningham, a professor of law and ethics at Georgia State University School of Law, told USA TODAY ahead of Friday’s accusations that if the allegations are true, Willis would be removed from the lawsuit to avoid jeopardizing the entire case. He said he should consider withdrawing. Indictment.
On Friday, Mr. Cunningham said he was even more convinced that Mr. Willis should step down.
“After reviewing the district attorney’s filings, including Nathan Wade’s affidavit, it is my opinion that Ms. Fani Willis should be placed on administrative leave as soon as possible, and that her career as district attorney will continue in her absence.” It just reaffirms that a certain prosecutor should be appointed,” Cunningham said. “These filings strongly suggest that even if prosecutors prevail, the disqualification issue will not be resolved by the February 15 hearing and may drag on for much longer.”
“Such a delay would be bad for the case and bad for the public,” he said.
Cunningham also said Willis “should not be making any decisions regarding Mr. Wade” given the conflict of interest, whether he should remain in office and other important issues related to the case.
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“Both are financially independent professionals.”
Friday’s filing was the first time Willis spoke in detail about their personal relationship, but she has been a vocal and passionate defender of Wade and her decision to choose him for the job.
“The black man I chose has been a judge for over 10 years, ran a private practice for over 20 years, and represented businesses in civil litigation. He’s not done yet,” Willis said of Atlanta. He gave an emotional speech at church. In the month, six days after the allegations first surfaced, he “served as a prosecutor, criminal defense attorney, and special assistant to the attorney general.”
Wade also admitted to the affair in an affidavit included in Willis’ court filing. He said the “personal relationship” began around 2022, at least a few months after he was hired. He said he was selected for the position based on his extensive qualifications.
Wade acknowledged Roman’s accusation that Roman and Willis traveled together, saying Willis “did not receive any funds or personal financial benefit from my position as special counsel.” ” he wrote.
“Both the district attorney and I are financially independent professionals. Personal travel expenses were split almost evenly,” Wade said.
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Prosecuting a former president: ‘A unique challenge in the profession’
Mr. Wade said he first became involved in the case in spring 2021 to assist Mr. Willis and others in their search for “competent and reliable counsel to manage and direct” the investigation into Mr. Trump. He added that he himself was not interested because his compensation was much lower than usual and because of “his concerns about violent rhetoric” and potential safety issues.
Wade said in October 2021 that he accepted the offer to lead the case “after further consideration of the unique professional challenges this case presents.”
President Trump’s trial date has not been set.
A trial date has not yet been set for this case. Fulton County Superior Court Judge McAfee gave Willis until Friday, February 2, to respond to the charges.
McAfee also plans to hold a hearing on Feb. 15 for both sides to present evidence related to the relationship between Willis and Wade.
Roman’s defense attorney, Ashley Merchant, was subpoenaed as a potential witness to testify publicly at the hearing to determine whether Willis and Wade benefited financially from their personal and professional relationship. did.
It was not immediately clear Friday whether Mr. Willis’ formal response would affect their appearance.
Merchant could not be reached for comment after Willis filed Friday. However, she told USA TODAY in her previous interview:th. We hope and hope that she will not try to avoid her testimony on these important issues. ”
Wade paid $550 an hour for controversial prison investigation
Wade also acknowledged in his affidavit that he was paid $550 an hour in a previous government job, which he did in a controversial 2020 suspicious death case at the Cobb County Jail outside Atlanta. It clearly shows that he led the investigation.
USA TODAY reported Thursday that Wade’s investigation attracted the attention of some lawyers and commentators because he did not produce any public reports or details of the investigation, and that he was hired shortly after the investigation concluded. The newspaper reported that he said he had a negative influence on Mr. Willis and him.
“The fact that he clearly had no written record of the investigation and did not produce a written report would put me in a position to hire a lawyer for a case as important as this one.” , it would definitely give me pause,” Cunningham said Thursday.
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