Georgia DA Fani Willis claims 'improper' relationship accusations are based on race
Willis claims she and top prosecutor were targeted because they are Black
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fulton County, Georgia district attorney Fani Willis, who brought charges against former President Donald Trump on election interference, claims allegations brought against her of having an "improper" romantic relationship with a prosecutor were made because they are Black.
Court documents filed earlier this month say Willis hired special prosecutor Nathan Wade, her alleged partner, to prosecute Trump and benefited financially from the relationship in the form of lavish vacations the two went on using funds his firm received for working the case.
For the first time since the allegations were made, Willis spoke on the matter at the Big Bethel AME Church in Atlanta on Sunday.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}TOP TRUMP PROSECUTOR, GEORGIA DA ALLEGED TO BE IN ‘IMPROPER’ ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP: COURT FILING
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis speaks in the Fulton County Government Center during a news conference, Monday, Aug. 14, 2023, in Atlanta. Donald Trump and several allies have been indicted in Georgia over efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
"They only attacked one," she said. "First thing they say, ‘Oh, she’s gonna play the race card now.’
"But no God, isn’t it them that’s playing the race card when they only question one," Willis asked.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Willis had remained mum in public on the matter, though she still has neither confirmed nor denied the allegations brought against her and Wade, who was involved in bringing an indictment against Trump for election interference.
Former President Trump has been ordered to appear in federal court in Washington D.C. for his arraignment on Thursday, Aug. 3, at 4:00 p.m. (Emily Elconin for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Although she never mentioned Wade by name during the speech on Sunday, she referred to the man as "a great friend and a great lawyer."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Trump’s co-defendant, Michael Roman, accused Willis and Wade of having an "improper" and "clandestine" affair at the same time appointments were being made for the 2020 election interference case.
Roman was a former official on Trump’s 2020 campaign and argued about the integrity of the case being compromised because of the affair, last week in court, asking for the charges against Roman to be dropped.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade. (Getty Images)
"The district attorney chose to appoint her romantic partner, who at all times relevant to this prosecution has been a married man," court documents read.
Fulton County records show Wade has been paid nearly $654,000 in legal fees since January 2022, an amount authorized by the district attorney, or Willis in this case.
The filing also calls for the entire district attorney's office, including Willis and Wade, to be disqualified from prosecuting the case.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Michael Roman was booked into the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. Roman is charged with alleged violation of the Georgia RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act, conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer, two counts of conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree, two counts of conspiracy to commit false statements and writings, conspiracy to commit filing false documents. (Fulton County Sheriff's Office )
Willis said on Sunday that John Floyd and Anna Green Cross, both prosecutors assigned to the case, are both white and were not targeted.
"Isn’t it them playing the race card when they constantly think I need someone from some other jurisdiction in some other state to tell me how to do a job I’ve been doing almost 30 years," Willis asked.
Trump was indicted by Willis in August and pleaded not guilty to charges related to allegedly attempting to subvert the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia, including violation of Georgia's anti-racketeering law.
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Roman, alongside Trump, was hit with a racketeering charge as part of Willis’ case and was charged with seven felony counts last August.
The Georgia case is one of four pending against Trump; he also faces charges in New York City, Florida and Washington, D.C.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Brandon Gillespie of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.