OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
A key witness in the effort to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from leading the election interference case against former President Donald Trump provided far less supportive testimony than expected.
Text messages showed that the witness, attorney Terrence Bradley, had been actively assisting the defense for months by supplying inside information regarding the romantic relationship between the prosecutor, Fani Willis, and a staff member she employed, Nathan Wade.
In contrast to Wade’s evasive remarks in court, Bradley implied that the relationship started before his hiring.
Defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant said, “I am nervous.”
“This is huge,” she said.
Bradley said, “You are huge. You will be fine.”
Merchant said to Bradley, “Do you think it started before she hired him?”
“Absolutely,” said Bradley.
Merchant said, “I protected you completely. I kept you out of it.”
Bradley said, “You are my friend and I trust you.”
The defense argued this amounted to an improper conflict of interest, as Wade had profited from work on the case.
Steven Sadow, a lawyer for Trump, said, “Why would you speculate and say that in a text?”
“I don’t recall why I thought that it started at that time,” Bradley replied.
The case has been embroiled in an extraordinary process examining the prosecutors’ conduct.
Willis will learn in the next two weeks whether a judge will disqualify her from the Trump-Georgia election interference case.
Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee announced this after hearing closing arguments from several lawyers involved in the racketeering case against former President Donald Trump and others.
Willis has been accused of having an affair with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, which lawyers contend created a conflict of interest and could compromise one of the four criminal cases against Trump.
While Willis’ office argues that there is no proof of any financial or professional impropriety resulting from their connection, critics claim that the relationship erodes public confidence in the prosecution.
Several attorneys and law experts believe that Willis could be in as much legal trouble as Trump and his remaining co-defendants in the RICO case she brought against them regarding the 2020 election.
The experts believe that sworn testimony she gave to a court regarding the start date of her relationship with a special prosecutor she hired to assist with the case, Nathan Hale, could result in perjury charges.
The Georgia judge presiding over the Willis election fraud case against Trump ruled on Friday on whether or not to disqualify her from the case following a series of damning allegations of corruption and lying about a romantic relationship with a special prosecutor she hired.
Judge Scott McAfee ruled that Willis is not disqualified and will remain on the Trump case.
The judge decided that Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade’s once-romantic relationship created an appearance of conflict of interest in the racketeering case. As a result, the prosecutors were prohibited from overseeing the case going forward unless Willis or Wade resigned.
“[T]he established record now highlights a significant appearance of impropriety that infects the current structure of the prosecution team — an appearance that must be removed through the State’s selection of one of two options. The Defendants’ motions are therefore granted in part,” McAfee wrote in his 23-page ruling.
BREAKING: Judge rules Fani Willis can remain on Trump’s election case in Georgia pic.twitter.com/D1dESrPEqt
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) March 15, 2024
During a hearing earlier this month, McAfee was forced to call for a five-minute break after Willis lost her temper on the stand over a question about Wade.
In a January 8 motion, Michael Roman, a Trump co-defendant, claimed that Willis had improperly profited from appointing Wade by using the money he was paid for his appointment to take trips with him while they were dating. The hearing on Willis’ eligibility to continue leading the case against Trump included her testimony.
When asked if Wade had ever been to her house, Willis became defensive and began displaying documents as evidence that the accusations were untrue.
“So let’s be clear ’cause you lied in this … let me tell you which one you lied in … Right here. I think you lied right here,” Willis said, raising the documents.
The judge slammed the gavel and tried to stop her while an unknown male started talking over her.
“No, no, no, this is the truth,” she exclaimed. “It is a lie! It is a lie!”
The judge then announced a five-minute break in proceedings.
WATCH:
During the hearing, Robin Yeartie, a former close friend of Willis who had worked for the district attorney’s office, testified that Willis and Wade got to know each other at a 2019 conference for municipal court judges. Yeartie’s testimony runs counter to their representation in court documents that their relationship started in 2022, following Wade’s contract.
During her contentious testimony, Willis further disclosed that she kept sizable sums of money at home, which she utilized to pay Wade back for their opulent excursions.
“When you meet my father, he’s going to tell you as a woman, you should always have … at least six months in cash at your house, at all times,” Willis said.
