Fani Willis, the Fulton County District Attorney presiding over the high-profile election interference case against former President Donald Trump, found herself at the center of a two-day hearing, delving into accusations of misconduct and a possible inappropriate connection with her special prosecutor, Nathan Wade.
The hearing, which concluded on Friday, February 16th, 2024, was requested by Trump’s lawyers, who sought to disqualify Willis from the case and have it dismissed.
They accused Willis of personally benefiting from her relationship with Wade, who was hired in November 2021, and of concealing it from the court and the public. They also claimed that the two lived together and that she paid him in cash for trips they took together.
The District Attorney denied the allegations and testified that she and Wade began their relationship after he was hired, that they never lived together, and that she repaid him in cash for travel expenses. She also said that their relationship did not affect the integrity of the case or the investigation.
The hearing that occurred on Thursday and Friday were marked by heated exchanges, especially when Willis took the stand, emotional testimony, and salacious details. The DA’s father, John Clifford Floyd III, testified and said that he and his daughter had received death threats as soon as Willis took office.
There’d been so many death threats and they said they were gonna blow up the house, they were gonna kill me, they were gonna kill my grandchildren. I was concerned for her safety.”
Fani Willis spent two heated hours testifying on Thursday but wasn’t called to do so on Friday, as there weren’t any further questioning by the lawyers.
Nathan Wade also testified that he and Willis had a professional and personal relationship, but that they did not live together or share finances. He also said that he was qualified for the job and that he did not receive any favors from Willis. However, the Judge accused him of perjury based on the timeline he provided earlier of his romantic involvement with the DA.
The hearing was presided over by Judge Scott McAfee, who was randomly assigned to the case after Fani Willis recused herself. McAfee said that he would issue a written ruling on the motions to disqualify Willis and dismiss the case within 30 days.
