Goldtent TA Paradise

Judge Rules Fani Willis Not Disqualified If Nathan Wade Steps Down

1. Fullgoldcrown says:

   March 15, 2024 - 9:41 am at 9:41 am

   Judge McAfee ruled that either Ms. Willis or Mr. Wade must step down from the case. The district attorney stepping aside would remove her entire office from the case, which would then need to wait for reassignment to another prosecutor. Mr. Wade is an outside attorney contracted by the office and his leaving the case would allow it to continue without any delay.

   The decision came after three days of testimony, including Ms. Willis’s own heated testimony on the witness stand, and additional arguments in court.

   Ms. Willis had hired Mr. Wade as special prosecutor to lead the case against President Trump and 14 others for allegedly violating Georgia’s racketeering law in their challenge of the 2020 elections.

   he attorney for one of the defendants alleged an “improper” relationship between Ms. Willis and Mr. Wade, and a conflict of interest and financial benefit to Ms. Willis that was grounds to disqualify her as prosecutor and dismiss the indictment.

   Prior to the evidentiary hearing, Ashleigh Merchant, attorney for defendant Michael Roman, suggested she obtained information supporting the allegations through a former law partner of Mr. Wade’s. Ms. Merchant took the lead in calling on and questioning witnesses for the defense and was later subpoenaed by a Georgia Senate panel to testify about her investigation into the district attorney’s hiring and budget practices.
   Contentious Hearing
   Two witnesses the defendants called to testify on the timeline of Ms. Willis and Mr. Wade’s relationship both had their credibility called into question by the state.
   Robin Yeartie, a former longtime friend of Ms. Willis’s, said Ms. Willis had told her about meeting Mr. Wade at a conference in 2019. Ms. Yeartie said a romantic relationship between the two began “shortly” after, that same year, and that there was “no doubt” in her mind that the two were dating, displaying signs of physical affection like “hugging, kissing.”

   Ms. Yeartie also worked as a press aide in the district attorney’s office and resigned from her job, which coincided with a falling out with Ms. Willis after which they never spoke again.

   Terrence Bradley, a former law partner of Mr. Wade’s, had also represented Mr. Wade in his recent divorce. Prior to the trial, Ms. Merchant suggested Mr. Bradley was the source of her information for the allegations. But during testimony, he repeatedly declined to answer due to attorney-client privilege.

   Near the end of his testimony, a lawyer for the district attorney revealed Mr. Bradley left the law firm between him, Mr. Wade, and a third attorney after an employee accused him of sexual assault. He previously claimed it was something he could not speak about due to attorney-client privilege, prompting the judge and defense to note that aspects to which Mr. Bradley invoked privilege may not in fact be covered.

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   The hearing only focused on the extent of the relationship and any alleged financial benefit to Ms. Willis.

   During Ms. Willis’s testimony, she accused Ms. Merchant of lying more than once.
   Ripple Effect
   After the huge allegations made in the Jan. 8 motion, half the defendants joined the motion to disqualify, adding other reasons such as “prejudicial behavior.”
   The scandal also snowballed far beyond Judge McAfee’s courtroom.

   Ms. Willis and Mr. Wade had kept their relationship private, and the timeline covers a period during which Mr. Wade was still married. After the relationship was first mentioned in the Jan. 8 motion, Mr. Wade’s then-wife filed in divorce court bank statements that corroborated the trips mentioned in the election case, including tickets in Ms. Willis’s name. Ms. Wade also tried to subpoena Ms. Willis for a deposition regarding her spouse’s financial situation, but Mr. Wade settled the divorce case before he or Ms. Willis was called on to testify.

   The allegation that Ms. Willis may have misused public funds also led to other probes.

   Fulton County Audit Committee Chair Bob Ellis sent a letter to Ms. Willis asking whether she “misused” county funds or “accepted valuable gifts and personal benefits from a contractor.”
   The Georgia House of Representatives then passed a bill to give an oversight panel the power to remove “rogue prosecuting attorneys who abuse their office.”
   The Georgia Senate also adopted a resolution to create a committee investigating the Willis allegations. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, State Sen. Bill Cowsert said at the panel’s inaugural meeting on Feb. 9 that multiple “whistleblowers” inside Ms. Willis’s office have already come forward with “allegations about the misuse of both federal funds and state funds.”
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   Then on Feb. 21, the Fulton County Board of Ethics called a special meeting scheduled for March 7 to hear two complaints brought against Ms. Willis, but later canceled it finding it had no jurisdiction over the district attorney, who is a state officer. A third individual then brought an ethics complaint against Ms. Willis for campaign finance issues to the Georgia State Ethics Commission.
   The House Judiciary Committee has also already been investigating Ms. Willis on the allegations that her case is politically motivated, and after the new allegations subpoenaed Ms. Willis and extended its investigation to cover Mr. Wade.

2. pedro_deleon says:

   March 15, 2024 - 9:55 am at 9:55 am

   So if Wade steps down, the collusion and meetings with WH mean nothing?

3. pedro_deleon says:

   March 15, 2024 - 9:58 am at 9:58 am

   via RedState

   Despite some proclamations by hopeful people on the right, the idea that these proceedings would lead to the case being dismissed was never realistic. That wasn’t an outcome on the table, and had Willis been removed, the case would have continued. Her staying as the face of the prosecution after taking this blow is probably the best-case scenario for the Trump defense. Had Willis been booted, it would have been embarrassing for her, but it would have possibly allowed someone more qualified to take over.

   • Fullgoldcrown says:

     March 15, 2024 - 10:38 am at 10:38 am

     Makes sense that BUT a new Prosecutor would rwuire much more time and case would not be resolved befor elections.

     Also lots of new evidence has been uncovered against Willis so Defense lawyers can bring another motion to consider it

     Judge may or may not do so

     • Kewl2 says:

       March 15, 2024 - 10:51 am at 10:51 am

       But IF more RINO’s leave the house and control returns to the Democrats than couldn’t they without certification of the election until AFTER the trials (and subsequent appeals) are all finished?? Thus preventing Trump from EVER taking office even if he won a vast majority…..

       Anyone know if such a DNC strategy would be legal???

       • Kewl2 says:

         March 15, 2024 - 10:52 am at 10:52 am

         withhold — not without

         • Fullgoldcrown says:

           March 15, 2024 - 11:50 am at 11:50 am

           Need to win the House and Senate so the new Congress would certify

           Senate is a slam Dunk for at least a tie and if Trump wins thats the majority right there

           House looks good for Repubs as well according to Red Eagle Pollster

           Also if They dont certify the Supremes will become involved I would think

           If a stalemate i understand each State House votes on who wins. Repubs have 27 to 23.

           Here we go again !

           Civil war pending