Fulton County DA Fani Willis answers questions about relationship, money
ATANTA - Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis took the stand shortly after 3 p.m. in Fulton County.
As Wade's testimony was concluding, Willis suddenly appeared in the courtroom and told the court that she was ready to go.
After she was sworn in, Willis, who appeared to be angry, told the court, "I've been very much looking forward to this conversation." She then accused Roman's attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, of being dishonest with the court.
Merchant began by grilling the district attorney about who paid for the trips that Willis and Wade took together. Willis explained that she gave Wade cash for anything that he paid for on her behalf. When she was asked where the cash came from, Willis answered that she always kept a supply of cash in her home because her father taught her that it was a good idea to have money on hand at all times.
Fulton Count DA misconduct hearing
Fulton County District Attorney Fani WIlis spent several hours on the stand on Thursday discussing her relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade. The hearing is to determine if Willis and Wade should be disqualified from the Georgia election interference case that is seeking to prosecute former President Donald Trump and others.
Willis says relationship ended in August
When asked when the relationship with Wade ended, Willis initially seemed to avoid the question. But then she said that Wade probably thought it was June or July, but they had a "hard conversation" in August. Willis said the relationship ended before the grand jury handed up the indictment against Trump and his co-defendants.
Willis reacts angrily to questions
Willis became angry again with Merchant when the lawyer pressed her on where Wade visited her. Willis demanded that Merchant give her a time frame. Merchant responded by asking, "Has he ever visited you at the place you lay your head?"
Willis responded saying, "Let's be clear, because you've lied. It is a lie! It is a lie!"
Judge Scott McAfee ordered a short break after the outburst.
After the break, the judge told everyone they must remain professional and not talk over each other. He also warned Willis that he would strike her testimony if she didn't answer Merchant's questions.
Trump attorney Steve Sadow questions Willis
Trump's attorney Steve Sadow followed Merchant in questioning Willis.
Sadow began by asking how often Wade visited Willis in the Yearti condo. Willis said she didn't remember how many times Wade visited her "during this lonely time."
He also questioned Willis about why she didn't tell anyone on her team about her relationship with Wade once it became romantic. Willis responded that she kept it to herself because she considered it private and that she doesn't tell her business to the world.
Sadow also grilled Willis about trips to Washington. Willis denied taking any trips to Washington with the special prosecutor.
When Sadow asked Willis if she had contact with Wade in 2020, Willis admitted Wade may have come to her office once or twice and she might have gone to his office. She also pointed out that she was running for office that year, Wade was battling cancer, and she was not "going to emasculate a Black man."
The examination by Sadow grew heated at times and Willis asked Sadow several times to stop yelling at her. Judge McAfee interrupted the questioning more than once in an effort to keep it on track.
After Sadow finished his line of questioning, several other lawyers took their turns asking the district attorney various questions.
In response to more questions about her relationship with Wade, Willis said that Wade once told her that "the only thing a woman can do for him is make him a sandwich." Willis said they would have "brutal" arguments about the fact that they were equals.
Willis also said during later questioning related to financial disclosure forms that she never accepted any gifts worth more than $100 from him in 2022.
Another lawyer grilled the district attorney about whether she was paid for her interviews for the book, "Find Me The Votes," and the cash that the DA said earlier in the day that she kept in her home. Additionally, the lawyer asked why Willis never used CashApp to pay Wade when she supposedly repaid him for trips. Willis responded there was no need to use CashApp because she was with him at the time.
Willis left the stand at about 5:15 p.m. The trial will resume at 9 a.m. Friday.
Nathan Wade takes the stand
Nathan Wade took the stand shortly before 11 a.m. Thursday in the hearing for Michael Roman's motion in Fulton County.
Wade stuck by his claim that his relationship began with Willis in 2022. He has also confirmed that he and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis traveled together in 2022 and 2023. However, he denied that he and Willis ever co-habitated.
During questioning about money paid for trips, Wade continued to insist that Willis paid him back for the trips they took together. Wade explained that when he used his credit card, she would give him cash. He said that Willis was an independent, proud woman and would insist on paying. He described it as a "point of contention" between the couple.
No longer romantically involved with Willis
During his afternoon testimony, Wade testified that his romantic relationship ended with Willis ended during the summer of 2023. When pressed for a specific date, he said he was a "man" and men usually aren't good with dates. However, he said they may be closer than ever because of the current situation, even though they are no longer romantically involved.
Wade also claimed that it was a coincidence that his divorce was filed the day after he was hired as special prosecutor.
Wade claims he was battling cancer in 2020
Under continued questioning, Wade again denied being in a relationship with Willis during 2020 and 2021. When the Fulton County attorney asked if there was a reason that he had to be especially careful during that time because of the pandemic, Wade said he was battling cancer during those years and he wasn't dating anyone.
Wade says he's made less money working on case
Wade also claimed during his testimony that his income had "significantly" decreased due to his involvement in the case against the former president and his co-defendants. Roman's motion claims that both Wade and Willis have profited from the case.
David Schafer laughs during testimony
At least two of the defendants in the election interference case were in the courtroom on Thursday -- former state Republican Party chairman David Schafer and Harrison Floyd. At one point during the questioning of Floyd, Schafer laughed, which prompted the judge to tell him that he would be asked to leave if there were any further outbursts.
Robin Yeartie says she has ‘no doubt’ about relationship
Before Wade took the stand, Willis' former longtime friend, Robin Yeartie, testified that she believed that Willis and Wade began a romantic relationship in October or November 2018 after they met at a conference.
She said that she had "no doubt" they were romantically involved from 2019 to 2022, and she said she saw them "hugging and kissing" before Nov. 1, 2021, which is when Wade was appointed special prosecutor for the Georgia election interference case.
Under questioning from the Fulton County attorney, Yeartie admitted she was written up once for poor performance.
Lawyer Terrence Bradley doesn't want to testify
Before Yeartie testified, Wade's former law partner, Terrence Bradley, was called to testify. Bradley said he met Wade in 1988 and they started a firm together. He claimed he didn't recall the dates when Willis and Wade met and was unwilling to share anything that Wade had shared with him about the relationship between Wade and Willis. Bradley indicated he was worried about losing his law license if he testified.
Roman's attorney had previously said that Bradly would provide testimony that would prove the relationship between Wade and Willis began before she hired him to be the special prosecutor in the Georgia election interference case.
FOX 5 investigative reporter Randy Travis is in the courtroom and is posting updates from the courtroom. Follow him on X for the latest information if you are unable to watch.
ORIGINAL STORY
The fate of the Fulton County election interference case could be decided this week without ever going to trial.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee is expected to hear testimony over whether a personal relationship between DA Fani Willis and a top special prosecutor constitutes a conflict of interest that should disqualify her from the case.
Nine of the remaining 15 co-defendants asked the judge to dismiss the charges. Some, like former state GOP chairman David Shafer, are expected to attend the Thursday hearing in person.
TIMELINE: FULTON COUNTY DA FANI WILLIS, NATHAN WADE CONTROVERSY
In a sworn statement, Nathan Wade said the relationship didn’t start until after Willis began paying him $650,000 so far to coordinate the Trump prosecution.
Fani WIllis and Nathan Wade (FOX 5)
But defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant — who represents former Trump advisor Michael Roman — plans to question Wade’s former business associate and divorce attorney Terrence Bradley, whose testimony she says will prove Wade is a liar.
Bradley's testimony is likely the key to whether Judge McAfee allows Willis and Wade to also be questioned under oath. The DA's father has also been subpoenaed, along with others both inside and outside the DA's office.
The hearing begins at 9:30 a.m. and could last two days.