The legal proceedings against former President Donald Trump took a tumultuous turn during a motions hearing on January 12, as Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee hinted at scheduling a mid-February hearing to address what has been deemed “scandalous” allegations involving District Attorney Fani Willis and prosecutor Nathan Wade.
The charges against Trump and 14 codefendants relate to their alleged violation of the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act in challenging the 2020 election results.
During the hearing, defendant Michael Roman, a former GOP strategist, made explosive claims, accusing Wade of improper use of funds from the district attorney’s office. Roman asserted that Wade, an attorney for the prosecution, utilized state funds for luxurious vacations with District Attorney Willis.
More Read
Wade, currently in the midst of a divorce, holds a partnership at a private law firm and is alleged to have received close to $1 million in legal fees from the district attorney’s office, as revealed in a motion presented during the hearing.
Roman’s extensive 100-plus page filing alleges that funds allocated for investigating the case were diverted from their intended purpose, which was to address the COVID backlog.
The motion seeks not only the dismissal of charges against Roman but also the removal of District Attorney Willis and her team. Prosecutors are yet to respond to the motion, and Judge McAfee has indicated that a hearing on the matter will not be scheduled until after receiving their response, expected in mid-February.
During the hearing, Steve Sadow, President Trump’s attorney, requested the option to consider the motion at a later date, citing a lack of foundation for the “scandalous and salacious” allegations. The judge approved this approach, emphasizing the need to wait for the district attorney’s response.
Roman’s filing, while relying on “sources,” lacks concrete evidence supporting the alleged relationship between Wade and Willis or proof of extravagant vacation expenditures.
The motion contends that appointing a special prosecutor with a personal relationship with the district attorney creates an irreparable defect in the indictment. Roman argued that public records do not show county approval for Wade’s appointment as a special prosecutor, citing sealed records in Wade’s ongoing divorce case as evidence of “indefensible conduct.”
Simultaneously, District Attorney Willis is under investigation by House Republicans for alleged election interference and collusion with the Jan. 6 Select Committee. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan sent a letter to Wade, demanding materials related to oversight of politically motivated prosecutions.
The letter references Roman’s motion, highlighting Wade’s payment of over $650,000 for his role in investigating and prosecuting Trump. It also addresses the allegation of extravagant spending on vacations with Willis, including expenses for interviews with the Jan. 6 Select Committee investigators and White House interviews.
The House Judiciary Committee is actively seeking documents that may reveal coordination between the district attorney’s office and other politically motivated investigations, as well as potential misuse of federal funds.
