Potentially damning text messages about Fani Willis-Nathan Wade affair disallowed as evidence in blow to Trump
Potentially damning text messages detailing when Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis’ affair with Nathan Wade began won’t be considered by a judge when he rules on whether the top prosecutor should be thrown off the Trump election fraud case — in a blow to former president’s case.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee said Friday text messages between Wade’s former divorce attorney Terrence Bradley and another defense lawyer couldn’t be admitted as evidence because Bradley spilled information that was covered under attorney-client privilege.
Ashleigh Merchant — representing Trump co-defendant Mike Roman who’s been spearheading the effort to oust Willis from the case — tried to bring her texts with Bradley into evidence as he testified Friday.
“I sent you a statement saying [Wade and Willis] met while serving as magistrate judges and they started a relationship at that time, and you corrected me and said, ‘No, it was municipal court,'” Merchant asked Bradley while reading from their messages.
Willis became Chief Municipal Judge for South Fulton in Georgia in 2019, a position she gave up when she was elected as DA in 2021, placing the time frame Bradley was referring to in that period — well before the pair say they first became romantic in 2022.
When Willis’ relationship with Wade, whom she hired as special prosecutor in the election fraud case, began is key.
Roman claims they were romantically involved before Wade was appointed to the case in 2021, presenting a conflict of interest that should disqualify Willis from prosecuting it.
Wade, who is still in the process of divorcing his wife, and Willis have both maintained they did not start a relationship into 2022 and broke up a year later.
However, McAfee ultimately barred this message and others from being admitted as evidence, finding they were covered by attorney-client privilege from Bradley’s time working as Wade’s divorce attorney.
“He may have told you something, but there is no evidence the client ever waived or allowed him to convey that to you,” McAfee said to Merchant.
Another text between Merchant and Bradley — also Wade’s former law partner — that the judge disallowed was from Sept. 18, 2023, when Merchant asked Bradley if he knew anyone who would make a sworn statement about Wade and Willis’ relationship.
“No, no one would freely burn that bridge,” Merchant said, reading from Bradley’s text to her.
What to know about District Attorney Fani Willis' trial
- Fulton County, Ga., District Attorney Fani Willis is being accused of misusing state and federal funds, and also engaging in an “improper” relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade.
- Willis admitted to having a “personal relationship” with Wade, but said it didn’t become romantic until after 2022 due to the case against former President Donald Trump.
- Willis hired Wade to work on the Trump case and paid him $654,000 in 2022, according to Trump co-defendant Michael Roman.
- Trump and his co-defendants are looking to disqualify Willis from the case and to have all charges, centered around the state’s expansive anti-racketeering RICO law, dismissed.
- The defense has presented dozens of pings from Wade’s cellphone that placed it at Willis’ rented condo prior to 2022. A former friend of Willis, who owned the condo, has testified that she saw the two of them “hugging” and “kissing” in 2019.
- On March 15, a judge ruled Willis can stay on and prosecute the Georgia election interference case against Trump and his co-defendants for allegedly trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election — if Wade steps aside.
Merchant and Trump’s lawyer Steven Sadow vigorously sought to get the messages allowed as evidence and to be able to probe Bradley on what they meant.
Anna Cross, a lawyer in Willis’ office, argued the messages are simply two lawyers “gossiping” and therefore should be kept out.
Later Friday, McAfee said he would meet privately with Bradley and his lawyer to probe whether he actually had grounds to invoke attorney-client privilege after it came out he wrongly used the privilege on another topic.
If Willis is found to have lied under oath or if Merchant can prove she improperly hired Wade and profited from his lucrative pay, there are grounds for her dismissal.
Judge McAfee is expected to make a ruling in the case next week.
