Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is set to make an appearance in Cobb County on Monday, Jan. 22 as a witness in the divorce case of her special prosecutor, Nathan Wade.
The controversy arose from allegations made by a co-defendant in an election interference case, claiming an inappropriate relationship between Willis and Wade.
Willis has been served with a subpoena by Wade’s ex-wife, Jocelyn, who submitted bank records detailing multiple trips taken by Willis and Wade during the investigation into the Georgia election interference case involving former President Donald Trump.
In response, Willis filed an emergency motion for a protective order, seeking to postpone her testimony in the divorce case.
She asserts that Wade’s marriage had already fallen apart before she met him and claims ignorance of any relevant information. Willis also accuses Jocelyn Wade of conspiring against her.
Legal experts anticipate uncertainty about the extent of information released during the divorce case. Typically, evidence in divorce proceedings remains sealed to protect the privacy of those involved.
However, the outcome of the Cobb County case may have repercussions on the upcoming hearing scheduled for February 15 in Fulton County.
The hearing in Fulton County involves a motion filed by co-defendant Michael Roman, who seeks to dismiss his case based on allegations of an improper relationship between Willis and Wade, arguing that they should not be allowed to prosecute the case.
Employment contracts revealing disparate pay for Wade compared to other special prosecutors have also been brought into question.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee is presiding over the February hearing, and legal experts suggest that the outcome of the Cobb County case may impact the timeline of the proceedings in Fulton County.
Visiting Associate Professor at Emory University, John Acevedo, noted:
“The more information released, the faster the criminal prosecution can continue, because then the information will already be in-hand for that February hearing.”
However, if the information remains sealed, the judge in February may need to decide whether to compel its release from the civil divorce proceeding in Cobb County, potentially causing delays in the Fulton County cases.
The hearing in Cobb County is scheduled to commence at 11:30 a.m. on Monday.
