Fulton County hearing: Trump case hangs in balance as judge mulls DA Willis' disqualification
The defense wants to disqualify DA Fani Willis in Trump's Georgia election case.
Following three days of testimony plus closing arguments, Scott McAfee, the judge overseeing former President Donald Trump's Georgia election interference case, is weighing motions to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, primarily over accusations from Trump co-defendant Michael Roman that she benefited financially from a "personal, romantic relationship" with prosecutor Nathan Wade, who she hired for the case.
Willis and Wade, in a court filing, admitted to the relationship but said it "does not amount to a disqualifying conflict of interest" and that the relationship "has never involved direct or indirect financial benefit to District Attorney Willis."
Top headlines:
- Defense says Willis committed 'unforgivable' misconduct
- Hearing concludes, judge says ruling expected within 2 weeks
- Judge presses DA's office: 'Money has changed hands'
- Bradley says he does 'not have the date' when relationship started
- Trump attorney accuses Nathan Wade of perjury
- Willis says she didn't consider relationship romantic before hiring
Willis' use of cash a 'Black thing,' father testifies
DA Fani Willis on Thursday repeatedly testified that when prosecutor Nathan Wade booked their travel or paid for meals, she would repay him with large amounts of cash -- an arrangement that appeared to draw skepticism from defense counsel.
On the stand today, Willis’ father, John Floyd, explained his daughter’s use of cash as “a Black thing.”
“I was trained -- and most black folks -- they hide cash, or they keep cash,” Floyd said. “I’ve told my daughter: 'You keep six months’ worth of cash -- always.”
“And as a matter of fact, I gave my daughter her first cash box and told her always keep some cash,” he testified.
Willis' father testifies he didn't meet Wade until 2023
DA Fani Willis' father, John Floyd, testified that he did not meet prosecutor Nathan Wade until 2023.
"Did you ever meet Mr. Wade in the year 2019?" Michael Roman's attorney Ashleigh Merchant asked Floyd.
"Absolutely not," Floyd replied.
"You ever seen Mr. Wade at Miss Willis [at the] Fulton County house in the year 2021?" Merchant asked.
"Never," Floyd said.
Willis' father describes 'nightmare threats against her and me'
Fani Willis' father, John Floyd, described in detail the extent of the threats and abuse his daughter faced as her investigation into the former president ramped up, which eventually prompted her to leave her home.
"There have been so many death threats," he said. "And they said they were going to blow up the house, they were going to kill her, they were going to kill me, they were going to kill my grandchildren -- I mean, on and on and on."
Floyd said he lived with his daughter around the time, and that at one point the police sent an officer with a dog to sniff for bombs multiple times each day.
"Did you fear for her safety?" a state attorney asked.
"Absolutely," Floyd replied.
Floyd said that after Willis left the home, he lived there himself until December of 2022 -- when he said the "nightmare threats made against her and me" made the home "uninhabitable."
"I would have to walk around that house looking out of every window" to ensure no intruders were approaching the home, Floyd said.
Ex-governor turned down role before it was offered to Wade
Former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes testified that early in DA Fani Willis' election interference probe, he was asked by Willis about taking the special prosecutor role in the investigation, but that he turned it down.
The former governor initially said he didn't remember the day when that meeting occurred.
But after stepping off the stand, about 10 minutes later Barnes walked back into the courtroom with his phone in his hand and calendar app pulled up, to tell the court the date he had found.
He said that the meeting where he turned down the special prosecutor position was on Oct 26, 2021 -- which would have been a few days before Nathan Wade was contracted for the position on Nov. 1, 2021.
Bradley says he does 'not have the date' when relationship started
Ashleigh Merchant, the attorney for Trump co-defendant Michael Roman, struggled as she began in her direct examination of Wade's ex-attorney Terrence Bradley as the proceedings quickly got bogged down in objections over privilege.
"A lot of this is based on gossip and innuendo ... and privileged information," the state's attorney said while objecting to Merchant's questioning.
The back-and-forth already appears to be frustrating Judge Scott McAfee, who threatened to limit the testimony.
"Ms. Merchant, you don't have much more to pull on here," McAfee said.
"He doesn't remember much of anything right now, and so I'm trying to create a timeline to hopefully piece this together," Merchant responded regarding Bradley.
While Merchant attempted to ask Bradley about past text messages exchanged -- which have not been entered into evidence -- Judge McAfee limited the testimony.
Bradley himself said he could not recall when Willis and Wade began their romantic relationship.
"I can't give you a date if you're asking for a date," Bradley said. "If you're asking me how did I get the knowledge, it would have come directly from a client."
"At this time, I am telling you that I do not have the date," Bradley responded when Merchant pushed on the question.