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."


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Willis' father testifies he's rarely seen her due to threats

DA Fani Willis' father testified more about the fallout the Willis family has faced in light of the ongoing threats she has faced over her work -- including how it has forced Willis to limit her contact with her father.

Willis' father, John Floyd, said "I've only seen my daughter -- and this is very hard for me to say – but during the period my daughter left, I've only seen my daughter 13 times because I can't."

Floyd testified that even when he's seen his daughter, they've kept their time together short.

"And we've never seen each other for more than maybe three hours because of, you know, the nightmare threats," he said.

Court recessed for a one-hour break after Floyd stepped down from the stand.


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.


Wade testifies Willis often paid him back for their travels

Addressing allegations that he paid for DA Fani Willis' travel when the two of them traveled together, prosecutor Nathan Wade testified that Willis often paid him back in cash or spent money on him in other ways so that expenses roughly "balanced out," insisting that Willis "carries her own weight."

"All of the vacations she took, she paid you cash?" defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant asked.

"Yes ma'am," Wade said.

The defense has accused Willis of improperly benefiting financially from the relationship, by paying Wade a salary that was then used to pay for their travels together.

Speaking more broadly, Wade insisted that throughout their entire relationship, Willis paid her own way, painting it as character trait of hers.

"If you've ever spent any time with Mrs. Willis you understand she's a very independent proud woman, so she's going to insist that she carries her own weight," he testified.

"It actually was a point of contention between the two of us," Wade said. "She was going to pay her own way."

Wade went through the various trips booked on his credit card, one by one, including trips to Napa Valley and Belize. In one instance, Wade testified it was actually Willis who paid for the "entire trip" -- despite the fact that it was on his credit card.

On the Napa trip, Wade testified that Willis paid for the excursions, "so the expenses sort of balances out." He said it was like any relationship: "In a relationship, you don't -- particularly men -- you don't go asking back," Wade said. "You're not keeping a ledger."