Former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes testified Friday that he was District Attorney Fani Willis’ first choice to work on the investigation against former President Donald Trump, but he turned it down.
Mr. Barnes, a Democrat who served from 1999 to 2003, told Ms. Willis he wasn’t interested in the post that ultimately went to Nathan Wade, an attorney whose relationship with her is at the heart of a motion to get the DA disqualified from the case.
Mr. Barnes said he had “mouths to feed” at his law office and didn’t like the high-profile nature of prosecuting the former president.
“I’d lived with bodyguards for four years and I didn’t like it,” Mr. Barnes said, referring to his term as governor. “I wasn’t going to live with bodyguards for the rest of my life.”
The state called Mr. Barnes to show that Mr. Wade was not Ms. Willis’ first choice. Her lawyers are trying to disprove the defense’s theory that Ms. Willis hired Mr. Wade so she could financially benefit from his taxpayer-funded job on the case through romantic trips and meals.
Mr. Barnes testified that Mr. Wade was well-organized and a solid pick for the role of special prosecutor.
Mr. Trump and 18 co-defendants were indicted under Georgia racketeering laws for their alleged roles in challenging the 2020 election that the former president says was rigged for Joe Biden.
One co-defendant, Michael Roman, cited Ms. Willis’ relationship with Mr. Wade in a motion that claims they developed a financial incentive in the prosecution and should be booted from the case — a development that would throw the prosecution into turmoil.
Ms. Willis defended her relationship in fiery testimony Thursday. She testified she repaid Mr. Wade in cash for her share of trips and meals and said their relationship was a private matter that ended in mid-2023.
Ms. Willis’ father, John Floyd, testified Friday. He said he didn’t meet Mr. Wade until 2023, backing up the state as it tries to prove the romantic relationship started after Ms. Willis hired him in November 2021.
A witness for the defense testified Thursday the relationship seemed to begin in late 2019.
The state’s attorneys opted against cross-examining Ms. Willis, so she didn’t return to the stand Friday after Thursday’s back-and-forth with attorneys for Mr. Trump and his co-defendants. The decision was interpreted as a sign that Ms. Willis’ team figures she won’t be disqualified.
Judge Scott McAfee is expected to rule on disqualification at some point after the two-day evidentiary hearing.
Mr. Trump says Ms. Willis is in more trouble than he is and should be ousted.
“Does anybody really believe that Fani Willis paid cash to her ‘lover’ whenever they took expensive ‘trips’ together. Really? Where did she get the CASH?” ” Mr. Trump wrote Friday on Truth Social. “Pretty weak questioning yesterday!!! I guess they don’t want to insult her. No way she can explain any of this corruption away!!!”
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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