Fani Willis: “Trump prosecutor's timing of case was inconsistent in court''

A Georgia official prosecuting Donald Trump began a relationship with the case's top lawyer earlier than she claimed, a court heard.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Nathan Wade said their relationship began after she hired him in late 2021.

However, a former friend of Ms Willis told a prosecutor's misconduct hearing that the affair began in 2019.

Trump's co-defendant, Michael Roman, wants Willis removed from the case.

Willis acknowledged in a court filing last week that he had an affair with Wade, but denied that it harmed Trump's proceedings.

Her filing includes a sworn affidavit from Wade stating that he had a “personal relationship” with Willis “before or at the time” of his appointment to the Trump case in November 2021. There was no relationship.”

But on Thursday morning, Willis' former best friend told a court in Atlanta, Georgia, that Willis and Wade's romantic relationship began at least two years ago.

Robin Yearty, a former employee of the Fulton County District Attorney's Office, said she saw the couple “hugging and kissing.”

Ierty, a friend of Willis's from college, told a press conference in District Court in October 2019 that the romance sparked soon after the two prosecutors met.

“There is no question that their romantic relationship continued from 2019 until the last time you spoke to her, right?” asked Mr. Roman's lawyer, Ashley Merchant.

“Absolutely,” Mr. Ierty replied.

Yearty testified that his friendship with Willis ended in March 2022, when he resigned from the Fulton County District Attorney's Office after being warned that he could be fired.

Wade testified in court Thursday that his romantic relationship with Willis began “around March” in 2022.

Defense attorneys repeatedly pressed Wade on whether he traveled with Willis in 2021.

“I don't remember the trip,” he replied.

Judge Scott McAfee said any evidence supporting the allegations could disqualify Willis from the case.

He also set aside Friday for a hearing. Judge McAfee said he would focus on several questions, including when Willis and Wade's relationship began, whether it continues and whether there was a financial conflict of interest.

Fulton County's first female district attorney last year indicted Trump and 18 co-defendants on charges of conspiring to overturn former President Joe Biden's defeat in Georgia's 2020 election.

Mr. Trump himself faces 13 felonies, including charges of pressuring Georgia officials and plotting to fraudulently certify Mr. Trump's victory by using fake election officials.

While Thursday's hearing began in Atlanta, Mr. Trump was 900 miles (1,450 kilometers) away in Manhattan for a hearing in which he decided to begin his hush money case against him on March 25. This will be the first criminal trial of a former US president.

Roman said Willis overpaid Wade for his role as special prosecutor and the two went on lavish vacations, including two cruises to the Bahamas, trips to California's Napa Valley and the Caribbean resort of Aruba. Mr. Wade claims that they spent time together and that Mr. Wade paid for the expenses. Belize.

Mr. Willis acknowledged in legal filings that he had a “personal relationship” with Mr. Wade, but denied that it influenced the election case.

The two said they are splitting travel expenses equally. Her filing included only receipts for one flight from Atlanta to Miami.

Although lawyers are ethically required not to make false statements in court, disciplinary matters are typically handled by the state's attorney rather than a judge.

Mr. Wade's former divorce lawyer, Terrence Bradley, was the first witness Thursday morning.

He said he appeared only as a result of a subpoena and was “not happy” to be in court for a hearing.

Roman's lawyer asked Bradley when Willis and Wade's relationship began.

But Mr. Bradley refused to respond, arguing that the information was protected by attorney-client privilege.