XPost: alt.fan.states.georgia, alt.politics.democrats, talk.politics.guns XPost: talk.politics.misc

On 15 Mar 2022, Lefty Lundquist <lefty_lundquist@ggmail.com> posted some news:t0qhuj$bs4$3@dont-email.me:

You have to wonder how some people managed to get a law degree. This
black whore is a crook!

ATLANTA (AP) — Allegations of misconduct have taken center stage in
Donald Trump’s 2020 Georgia election case, thrusting top prosecutors’
private lives into the spotlight and forcing them to answer deeply
personal questions in court as they try to defend against efforts to
derail the high-stakes case.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is set to return to the
witness stand Friday, as the case that was supposed to be about efforts
to overturn Georgia’s presidential election results has become embroiled
in controversy over the love lives of the prosecutors seeking to hold
Trump accountable.

During fiery and sometimes combative testimony Thursday, Willis was
grilled by lawyers about her romantic relationship with special
prosecutor Nathan Wade, which defense attorneys allege presents a
conflict of interest that should force Willis off the case.

Willis forcefully pushed back against claims of impropriety, at times
getting visibly upset as lawyers questioned her about everything from
her finances to trips she has taken with Wade. The judge at one point
had to call a break in testimony as tempers flared. Willis accused a
defense attorney of trying to smear her, raising papers in front of her
and shouting, “It’s a lie!”

“Do you think I’m on trial? These people are on trial for trying to
steal an election in 2020. I’m not on trial no matter how hard you try
to put me on trial,” Willis told defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant.

The probing questions for Willis and for Wade, who testified before her, underscored the extent to which the prosecutors are themselves now under
a public microscope, with revelations about their personal lives
diverting attention away from Trump’s own conduct. The allegations also provided an opening for Republicans to try to cast doubt on the
legitimacy of one of four criminal cases Trump is facing as he vies to
reclaim the White House in November.

It’s unclear when the judge might rule on whether Willis and her office
should be disqualified from the case. Judge Scott McAfee said during a
hearing Monday that Willis could be disqualified “if evidence is
produced demonstrating an actual conflict or the appearance of one.”

Willis, who had previously tried to avoid testifying, agreed to do so
Thursday after a former friend and co-worker testified that Willis and
Wade’s relationship began earlier than they had claimed.

Robin Yeartie, who previously worked in the district attorney’s office, testified that she saw Willis and Wade hugging and kissing before he was
hired as special prosecutor in November 2021. Wade and Willis both
testified that they didn’t start dating until 2022 and that their
relationship ended months ago.

During personal and uncomfortable testimony that spanned hours, Wade
also admitted to having sex with Willis during his separation from his estranged wife, even though he had claimed in a divorce filing that
wasn’t the case.

Wade, who took the stand after the judge refused to quash a subpoena for
his testimony, testified that he and Willis traveled together to Belize,
Aruba and California and took cruises together, but said Willis paid him
back in cash for some travel expenses that he had charged to his credit
card.

“She was very emphatic and adamant about this independent, strong woman
thing so she demanded that she paid her own way,” Wade said.

Willis’ removal would be a stunning development in the most sprawling of
the four criminal cases against Trump.

If Willis were disqualified, a council that supports prosecuting
attorneys in Georgia would need to find a new attorney to take over.
That successor could either proceed with the charges against Trump and
14 others or drop the case altogether. Even if a new lawyer went forward
with the case, it would very likely not go to trial before November,
when Trump is expected to be the Republican nominee for president.

Willis and Wade’s relationship was first revealed by Merchant, an
attorney for Trump co-defendant Michael Roman, a former campaign staffer
and onetime White House aide. Merchant has alleged that Willis
personally profited from the case, paying Wade more than $650,000 for
his work and then benefiting when Wade used his earnings to pay for
vacations the pair took together.

https://ktla.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-fani-willis-to-return-to-th e-witness-stand-as-she-fights-an-effort-to-derail-trumps-election-case/

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