A former Atlanta prosector says embattled District Lawyer Fani Willis was “belligerent” in her testimony Thursday in opposition to allegations she had an “improper” affair with particular prosecutor Nathan Wade.
John Malcolm, a former assistant U.S. lawyer in Atlanta, advised Fox Information Digital in an announcement the “spotlight” of the “wild” evidentiary listening to on Thursday was Willis’ testimony.
“She has been belligerent and argumentative. It’s laborious to inform what influence this can have on Decide McAfee as he evaluates her credibility,” Malcolm stated.
Malcolm additionally stated Wills’ declare she reimbursed Wade in money for his or her shared holidays was “troublesome to swallow.”
HEARING UNDERWAY ON EVIDENCE AGAINST DA FANI WILLIS IN TRUMP CASE THAT COULD DISQUALIFY HER
Fulton County District Lawyer Fani Willis testifies throughout a listening to within the case of the State of Georgia v. Donald John Trump on the Fulton County Courthouse Feb. 15, 2024, in Atlanta. (Alyssa Pointer-Pool/Getty Photos)
“One factor that appears troublesome to swallow is her declare that she paid her paramour — Nathan Wade — in money to reimburse him for bills associated to luxurious journeys they took collectively. Her testimony that she stored massive quantities of money in her home as a matter of follow and has no written report to again up her testimony appears laborious to consider,” Malcolm stated.
Decide Scott McAfee held the listening to Thursday to hash out proof associated to allegations made by GOP political operative Michael Roman earlier this yr. Roman is a co-defendant within the case Willis introduced in opposition to former president Donald Trump. She is bringing sweeping costs associated to alleged interference within the 2020 presidential election.
Wade additionally took the stand earlier within the listening to. Craig Gillen, lawyer for an additional Trump co-defendant, David Shafer, questioned Wade earlier about Willis’ repayments to him for holidays that had been made in money.
HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBPOENAS FULTON COUNTY DA FANI WILLIS
Particular prosecutor Nathan Wade admitted he didn’t have deposit slips or receipts to assist his claims. (lyssa Pointer/Pool/Getty Photos)
Wade admitted he didn’t have deposit slips or receipts to assist his claims.
“You don’t have a single solitary deposit slip to corroborate or assist any of your allegations that you just had been paid by Ms. Willis in money, do you?” Gillen requested.
“No, sir,” Wade stated.
“Not a single solitary one?” Gillen pressed.
“Not a one,” Wade stated.
EMBATTLED DA FANI WILLIS FACES 4TH ACCUSATION TO DISQUALIFY HER FROM THE TRUMP CASE
Malcolm additionally advised Fox Information Digital the testimony of Robin Yeartie, a former Fulton County DA worker and self-described “good good friend” of Willis, who stated that Willis’ romantic relationship started with Wade previous to his appointment as particular prosecutor, can also be “fairly devastating.”
“Though Wade and Willis have denied this, there might be different proof that helps Ms. Yeartie and contradicts their testimony,” Malcolm stated.
Yeartie stated Thursday she has “little question” Willis and Wade had been in a romantic relationship beginning in 2019 to when she and Willis final spoke in 2022.
Fulton Superior Court docket Decide Scott McAfee (AP Picture/John Bazemore)
This contradicts Willis’ claims in court docket that she and Wade “have been skilled associates and buddies since 2019,” and “there was no private relationship” between her and Wade in November 2021 on the time of Wade’s appointment.
“You don’t have any doubt that their romantic relationship was in impact from 2019 till the final time you spoke together with her?” Service provider questioned.
“Little doubt,” Yeartie stated.
Decide McAfee stated earlier within the week that, relying on his findings after listening to the proof introduced from either side, Willis might be disqualified from the case.
“In learning the regulation that is been filed up up to now, I believe it is clear that disqualification can happen if proof is produced demonstrating an precise battle or the looks of 1. And the submitting submitted on this situation thus far have introduced a battle within the proof that may’t be resolved as a matter of regulation,” he stated.
