Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis addressed allegations of an improper romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade during a speech at the Big Bethel AME Church in Atlanta on Sunday, Jan. 14.
The accusations surfaced earlier this month, claiming that Willis hired Wade, her alleged partner, to prosecute former President Donald Trump, leading to financial benefits such as luxurious vacations funded by the fees Wade’s firm received for working on the case.
In her response, Willis asserted that the allegations were racially motivated, stating:
“They only attacked one,” and challenging the notion that she was playing the race card. She referred to Wade as “a great friend and a great lawyer” but did not directly confirm or deny the allegations.
The court documents, filed by Trump’s co-defendant Michael Roman, alleged an “improper” and “clandestine” affair between Willis and Wade, suggesting a compromise in the integrity of the 2020 election interference case.
Roman argued for the charges against him to be dropped, asserting that the district attorney appointed her romantic partner to the case.
Records from Fulton County show that Wade has received nearly $654,000 in legal fees since January 2022, authorized by Willis. The filing called for the disqualification of the entire district attorney’s office, including Willis and Wade, from prosecuting the case.
Willis defended her team, highlighting that the prosecutors, John Floyd and Anna Green Cross, assigned to the case are white and were not targeted.
She questioned the need for external influence on her decades-long experience in the legal field.
In August, Willis indicted Trump on charges related to alleged attempts to subvert the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia, including a violation of the state’s anti-racketeering law.
Roman, also facing charges in the case, was hit with a racketeering charge and seven felony counts. The Georgia case is one of four pending against Trump, with charges in New York City, Florida, and Washington, D.C.
