(USNewsMag.com) – Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee confirmed an evidentiary hearing on February 15th related to allegations Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade had an “improper” affair.
Willis, who admits she had a personal relationship with Wade, hired him to help prosecute the case related to the Georgia 2020 election results against former President Donald Trump. Willis denies there was a conflict of interest in hiring Wade, and had requested the court cancel the evidentiary hearing.
In a February 12th hearing to consider Willis’ motion to cancel the hearing, Judge McAfee said that Willis could face disqualification if any evidence produced at the evidentiary hearing demonstrates “an actual conflict or the appearance of one.” He added that the evidence submitted in the filings thus far “have presented a conflict.” He said Willis has admitted to the personal relationship, so what needs to be examined “is the existence and extent of any financial benefit.”
The allegations against Willis were made by former Trump campaign staffer Michael Roman’s attorney, Ashleigh Merchant. Roman, a co-defendant in the Georgia 2020 election interference case, is seeking to have the indictment against him dismissed, and his attorney has argued that Willis and her team should be disqualified from the case because of her conduct.
In a January filing, Roman alleged that shortly after being appointed as a special prosecutor in November 2021, despite having no RICO and felony prosecution experience, Wade billed Fulton County for 24 hours of work in a single day. Since January 2022, Wade has billed Fulton County for $654,000. Roman alleged that Willis benefited financially from Wade’s salary, showing that he paid for them to take expensive vacations together.
In his ruling on February 12th, Judge McAfee said Wade’s experience does not matter, adding that what is important in the case is the “extent of any personal benefit conveyed” because of the relationship.
Willis responded to the allegations against her, calling them “salacious” but stating that they have no “merit.”
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