Fani Willis to return to the witness stand as she fights an effort to derail Trump’s election case

ATLANTA– Allegations of misconduct are at the center of Donald Trump’s 2020 election case in Georgia, putting the spotlight on the private lives of top prosecutors and forcing them to answer deeply personal questions in court as they try to defend themselves against attempts to derail the high-stakes case.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis will return to the witness stand Friday as the case involving efforts to overturn the results of the presidential election in Georgia has become embroiled in controversy over the love lives of the prosecutors holding Trump accountable want to shout.

During fiery and sometimes combative testimony Thursday, Willis was questioned by attorneys about her romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, which attorneys argue represents a conflict of interest that should force Willis off the case.

Willis vigorously pushed back against claims of impropriety, sometimes becoming visibly upset when lawyers questioned her about everything from her finances to trips she took with Wade. At one point the judge had to interrupt the testimony because emotions were running high. Willis accused a lawyer of smearing her, lifting papers in front of her and shouting, “It’s a lie!”

“Do you think I’m on trial? These people are on trial for trying to steal the 2020 election. I am not on trial no matter how hard you try to bring me to justice,” Willis told attorney Ashleigh Merchant.

The probing questions for Willis and for Wade, who testified before her, underscored the extent to which the accusers themselves are now under a public microscope, with revelations about their personal lives distracting from Trump’s own behavior. The allegations also provided an opening for Republicans to try to cast doubt on the legitimacy of one of four criminal cases facing Trump as he battles to reclaim the White House in November.

It is unclear when the judge would decide whether Willis and her office should be disqualified from the case. Judge Scott McAfee said during a hearing Monday that Willis could be disqualified “if evidence is presented showing an actual conflict, or the appearance of one.”

Willis, who had previously tried to avoid testifying, agreed Thursday after a former friend and colleague testified that Willis and Wade’s relationship began earlier than they had claimed.

Robin Yeartie, who previously worked in the district attorney’s office, testified that she saw Willis and Wade hugging and kissing before he was hired as special prosecutor in November 2021. Wade and Willis both testified that they didn’t start dating until 2022 and that their relationship ended months ago.

During personal and uncomfortable testimony that lasted hours, Wade also admitted to having sex with Willis during his divorce from his estranged wife, even though he had claimed in a divorce filing that this was not the case.

Wade, who took the stand after the judge refused to quash a subpoena for his testimony, testified that he and Willis traveled to Belize, Aruba and California together and took cruises together, but said Willis reimbursed him in cash for some travel expenses he incurred. had made. charged to his credit card.

“She was very emphatic and adamant about this independent, strong women thing, so she demanded she pay her own money,” Wade said.

Willis’ removal would be a stunning development in the most expansive of the four criminal cases against Trump.

If Willis were disqualified, a board supporting Georgia prosecutors would have to find a new attorney to take over. That successor could either continue with the charges against Trump and fourteen others, or drop the case altogether. Even if a new lawyer were to pursue the case, it would most likely not go to trial before November, when Trump is expected to be the Republican nominee for president.

The relationship between Willis and Wade was first revealed by Merchant, a lawyer for Trump co-defendant Michael Roman, a former campaign aide and former White House aide. Merchant has alleged that Willis personally profited from the case by paying Wade more than $650,000 for his work and then profiting when Wade used his earnings to pay for vacations the couple took together.

____ Richer reported from Boston. Associated Press writer Adriana Gomez Licon in Miami contributed to this report.