Atlanta, Georgia – A Georgia judge halted Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’s scheduled deposition in the divorce proceedings involving a top prosecutor in the 2020 election interference case against former President Donald Trump. The divorce of special prosecutor Nathan Wade gained attention when one of Trump’s co-defendants accused Wade and Willis of being involved in an improper romantic relationship that allegedly undermines the district attorney’s office’s racketeering indictment.
Willis was subpoenaed earlier this month in the ongoing divorce case between Wade and his wife, Joycelyn, which began in 2021. Wade’s estranged wife’s lawyer argued that Willis, as district attorney, should not be shielded from revealing information about Wade’s marriage to assist in dividing the couple’s marital assets. Willis’s lawyer countered by stating that any knowledge Willis obtains could also be obtained from Wade.
Furthermore, Willis’s lawyer emphasized that Willis does not share bank accounts with Wade and does not dictate his spending habits. Last week, Wade’s wife accused him of purchasing multiple flights for himself and Willis as the district attorney’s office investigated Trump and his associates in relation to the state’s 2020 election results. The bank statements submitted as evidence indicated flights to San Francisco and Miami during this period.
Judge Henry Thompson declined to exempt Willis from being deposed in the future but temporarily suspended the requirement until after Wade has been deposed. Thompson also ruled to unseal documents related to Wade’s divorce after finding errors in the initial sealing order. Ashleigh Merchant, the lawyer for Trump’s co-defendant, brought the matter to the court’s attention, and media outlets have also requested the records to be unsealed.
Trump’s co-defendant has asked the judge to dismiss the case against him and prevent Willis, Wade, and the Fulton County district attorney’s office from further involvement. The district attorney’s office has refrained from commenting on the romance allegations, expressing that they will address the issue through court filings.
Judge Scott McAfee, overseeing Trump’s case, has ordered Willis to respond in writing to the accusations by February 2. A hearing on the matter has also been scheduled for February 15.
In conclusion, the proceedings in Fulton County continue to be mired in controversy as allegations of a romantic relationship between a top prosecutor and the district attorney overseeing the case emerge. The judge’s decision to postpone the deposition of the district attorney until after the top prosecutor’s deposition adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing divorce case. The unsealing of divorce-related documents will provide further insight into the circumstances surrounding the accusations. The outcome of this case will undoubtedly impact the prosecution’s handling of the election interference case against Trump and his co-defendants.