District Attorney Fani Willis has recently been accused of having an improper relationship with a prosecutor she hired for the high-profile election interference case against former President Donald Trump.
These allegations were brought to light in a divorce filing by the prosecutor’s estranged wife, Jocelyn Wade. In response, Willis has filed a motion to quash a subpoena seeking her testimony in the divorce proceedings. She claims that the request for her testimony is not relevant to the divorce and is simply a ploy to harass and embarrass her.
The allegations against Willis, made by Michael Roman – one of Trump’s co-defendants in the election interference case, have caused quite a stir in the legal community. In the court filing, Roman’s attorney claims that prosecutor Nathan Wade has been paid over $650,000 in legal fees by Fulton County since January 2022. They allege that this money was used for lavish vacations taken by Wade and Willis, who had an undisclosed relationship.
Willis, who is overseeing the highly controversial election interference case against Trump, has denied any wrongdoing. Her lawyer, Cinque Axam, stated in the motion to quash the subpoena that Willis “lacks personal knowledge of any matter that is relevant” to the divorce proceedings between Wade and his estranged wife. Additionally, Axam argues that the Wades have both stated that their marriage is “irretrievably broken”, indicating that there is no need for any further testimony or information regarding their relationship.
The timing of these allegations is particularly suspicious, as they come just as Roman’s attorney is seeking to remove Willis and Wade from the election interference case. Willis’s legal counsel has raised concerns that Jocelyn Wade’s lawyer is working in tandem with “interested parties” in an attempt to “annoy, embarrass, and oppress” Willis. They suggest that the true motive behind the subpoena may be to undermine Willis’s credibility and damage her professional reputation.
Andrea Dyer Hastings, a lawyer for Jocelyn Wade, claims that she is preparing a response to Willis’s motion. In a statement to the New York Times, Hastings questioned why Willis would be worried about her testimony damaging her reputation if she has no knowledge of any relevant information.
“Ms. Willis alleges that her deposition is being sought in an attempt to harass and damage her professional reputation. Why would her truthful testimony risk damaging her reputation?” Hastings said in a text.
The judge overseeing the election interference case, Scott McAfee, has set a hearing for Feb. 15 to examine the allegations against Willis and Wade. In accordance with a court order, Willis was required to submit her response to the allegations by Feb. 2. A separate hearing regarding the unsealing of the divorce files has been scheduled for Jan. 31 in Cobb County, which is outside of Atlanta.
These allegations have the potential to impact the high-profile case against Trump and his co-defendants. If the accusations against Willis are proven to be true, it could cast doubt on the integrity of the case and potentially lead to a mistrial.
The outcome of the hearing will be closely watched by legal experts and the public alike, as it could have far-reaching implications.