Fani Willis has admitted to having an improper relationship with the lead prosecutor in the case against former President Donald Trump.
Willis responded to the allegation she had an improper relationship with prosecutor Nathan Wade in a 176-page document. The document was Willis’ opposition to Trump, Michael A. Roman and Robert Cheeley’s motion to disqualify her due to allegedly having the improper relationship with Wade.
In the document, Willis defended Wade’s career credentials. She hired Wade to take on the case against Trump and others in Georgia’s 2020 election fraud claims against the former president. Trump and fellow defendants alleged Willis had a personal conflict of interest bringing Wade aboard.
Willis’ response shows Wade was hired to work the case in 2021, when the two were just friends. It was in 2022 when both parties began a “personal relationship.” Wade said despite the personal relationship, he’s never lived or benefited financially from it. It may also be worthy to note Wade filed for divorce from his wife of over 26 years one day after being hired in the case against Trump.
“The District Attorney and I are both financially independent professionals,” Wade said in the document. “Expenses for personal travel were roughly divided equally between us. At times, I have made and purchased travel for District Attorney Willis and myself from my personal funds. At other times, District Attorney Willis has made and purchased travel for she and I from her personal funds. Examples of District Attorney Willis purchasing plane tickets for she and I with her personal funds for our personal travel are attached.”
He then attached an email confirmation of Willis booking two plane tickets from Atlanta to Miami for a five-day trip.
In the document, Willis, a Black woman, attached some of the hate mail she’s receive during the case accusing the former president of election fraud. She’s been called everything from the N-word with the hard “r” to a “b—” with perceived threats to her and her family.
Willis also accused the defense team of having attorneys who were also in personal relationships with each other.
What does all of this mean?
NYU law professor Ryan Goodman, who noted he’s been very critical of Willis and Wade in the past, said the DA’s extensive response with receipts should have been enough to leave the attack behind.
“This should end the matter,” Goodman posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “No relationship before or when hired by DA. Shared costs equally.”
This should end the matter.👇
On efforts to remove Fulton County DA Fani Willis and Nathan Wade from prosecution of FPOTUS Trump.
(Note: I have been critical of Willis and Wade.)
Signed affidavit by Wade:
– No relationship before or when hired by DA.
– Shared costs equally. pic.twitter.com/A7yzPg6NXs— Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw) February 2, 2024
“While the allegations raised in the various motions are salacious and garnered the media attention they were designed to obtain, none provide this Court with any basis upon which to order the relief they seek,” Willis wrote on the first page of the document.
