Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has confirmed her romantic involvement with special prosecutor Nathan Wade but asserts that she will not recuse herself from the election fraud case against former President Donald Trump and 14 others. Despite the acknowledgment, both parties maintain that the personal relationship did not involve any financial benefits for Willis. The disclosure follows allegations by former Trump campaign official Michael Roman, who sought the removal of Willis, Wade, and the entire district attorney’s office from the case, citing a potential conflict of interest.
In a court filing on Friday, Willis clarified that the relationship with Wade had no financial implications for her. She requested Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee to reject Roman’s motion to disqualify the prosecutors and cancel the upcoming hearing on February 15, where Willis and Wade may be called to testify regarding the controversy.
Wade also denied any conflict of interest, asserting that their personal relationship began in 2022 and had no bearing on the outcome of the 2020 election interference case. Both emphasized that their affair initiated after Willis hired Wade for the high-profile role of overseeing the racketeering investigation against Trump.
The election fraud case involves charges against Trump and several others for their alleged attempts to overturn Joe Biden’s 2020 victory in Georgia. The controversy surrounding the romantic relationship between Willis and Wade has led to additional scrutiny and legal challenges to the ongoing proceedings.
Roman, who initially raised concerns about the relationship, accused Wade of using funds exceeding $650,000 for trips to California, Florida, and Caribbean cruises with Willis. Trump and another co-defendant later joined the motion seeking the disqualification of the prosecution team. However, Steve Sadow, Trump’s attorney, stated that the recent developments had no impact on their legal strategy, reiterating their call for the case’s dismissal.
The allegations of impropriety have become a focal point for Trump, Republicans in Georgia, and Congress, who have criticized Willis and her handling of the election case. House Judiciary Committee Chair Rep. Jim Jordan subpoenaed Willis on Friday, demanding documents related to how her office spends federal funds.
Willis responded to the accusations in a comprehensive court filing, rejecting claims of financial conflict of interest and criticizing Roman for relying on “supposition and innuendo” in attacking her private relationship with Wade. Willis argued that the evidence and facts demonstrated her lack of financial conflict of interest, making the disqualification motion baseless.
While acknowledging the distasteful nature of the allegations, Willis highlighted that personal relationships among defense attorneys in the case could be subject to disqualification under the standard urged by Roman’s motion. The legal landscape surrounding the case remains complex, with implications for the ongoing proceedings and potential delays.
Legal experts, including former Obama White House ethics czar Norm Eisen, have suggested that Willis and Wade’s actions do not appear to violate Georgia election law or legal ethics. However, critics and defendants in the case may use Willis’s carefully worded statements to question the impartiality of the prosecutors.
As the controversy continues, the Feb. 15 hearing remains scheduled, with both sides expected to present evidence related to the relationship between Willis and Wade. The outcome of this hearing could have far-reaching consequences for the Trump election fraud case and the broader legal challenges surrounding it. The calls for Willis to step away from the case persist, with concerns about the potential impact on the prosecution’s credibility and public trust.