After reaching a temporary agreement in his divorce case on Tuesday, the special prosecutor leading the election interference case against former President Donald J. Trump won’t have to testify this week about an alleged romantic relationship between herself and Fani T. Willis, Fulton County district attorney.
Nathan J. Wade and Joycelyn Wade reached an agreement regarding special prosecutor Susan Willis’ high-profile prosecution of 14 members of Donald Trump’s inner circle that leaves a key question unanswered for now.
Ms. Willis initially hired Mr. Wade, a private practice lawyer, in 2021 as her confidant to help run the Trump case, on the grounds that they needed one for this particular task. But recently one of Mr. Trump’s co-defendants Michael Roman claimed in court documents that they were romantically involved and had taken vacations paid for by Mr. Wade.
Mr. Roman contends that this situation creates a conflict of interest, justifying removal of both prosecutors, as well as Ms. Willis’ office from this matter.
So far, neither Mr. Wade or Ms. Willis have confirmed or denied allegations of their relationship; however, in recent days it appeared likely that he would address them at his divorce hearing on Wednesday, where he will take the stand and take part.
At the last moment, Judge Carl Waddell abruptly cancelled a scheduled divorce hearing in favor of an agreement announced by Andrea Dyer Hastings – Ms Wade’s divorce lawyer – announced by Tuesday afternoon. She stated: “We can confirm this is only a temporary agreement in place while final details are worked out.”
Ms. Hastings noted on Tuesday evening that while this may preclude an immediate hearing, it does not resolve the case completely. Additionally, temporary alimony and attorneys’ fees issues had already been settled upon. She added that the couple now had adult children from whom to share custody arrangements.
Mr. and Ms. Wade wed in 1997 and filed for divorce more than two years later.
Ms. Willis has until Friday to respond to Mr. Roman’s filing and it remains to be seen if she will address his allegations of inappropriate relations in her response.
Mr. Roman, a former Trump campaign staffer, did not provide evidence of romantic relations between two prosecutors; rather it asserted they had been seen together “in a personal relationship capacity” around Atlanta and claimed people close to both had confirmed it.
Mr. Wade has amassed over $650,000 in legal fees since Ms. Willis hired him in November 2021, according to Mr. Roman’s filing, while Ms. Willis had profited greatly from this prosecution at taxpayer expense due to taking vacations paid for by Mr. Wade – creating a conflict of interest situation for herself and others involved.
Allegations against Mr. Trump do not alter the central allegations in this case, which allege a plot by him and his allies to disrupt Georgia’s presidential election results in 2020. Four out of 19 original defendants have already pled guilty, including some staunch allies of President Donald Trump such as Jenna Ellis – one who expressed regret over what she did – during hearings held late last year; Jenna Ellis spoke tearfully during one such hearing when speaking tearfully of what had transpired:
Legal experts differ on the merits of Mr. Roman’s filing and whether it will convince Judge Scott McAfee of Fulton County Superior Court to disband the prosecution team against him and drop all seven felony charges brought against him.
However, these accusations have added further complications for Ms. Willis. Fulton County has initiated an inquiry and requested documents such as invoices and payments made to special prosecutors; however, its board does not possess the power to remove her as district attorney.
Republican lawmakers recently created a commission to oversee Georgia prosecutors, and this could pose an even more grave threat than before to Ms. Willis’ conduct. Though its full scope of powers remains undetermined, most likely this commission can punish or remove them as needed.
On Tuesday, Mr. Roman’s lawyer Ashleigh Merchant filed suit against the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office, alleging it of intentionally withholding information ahead of evidentiary hearings.
Ms. Merchant reported filing numerous public records requests but still hadn’t received some documents, such as invoices from payments made from the office to Mr. Wade in 2023 and copies of reimbursements made to Ms. Willis for travel expenses.
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