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Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis on Sunday defended the special prosecutor she hired to work on the election interference case against former President Donald Trump as a “great friend and a great lawyer,” without confirming or denying allegations of an improper relationship between them.
Ms. Willis broke her silence about the lawyer, Nathan Wade, in an address to the Big Bethel AME Church in Atlanta — days after a bombshell court motion from Trump co-defendant Michael Roman alleged that Mr. Wade, a married father of two, paid for luxury vacations with Ms. Willis after his law firm received taxpayer money from for work on the Trump case.
“They only attacked one,” Ms. Willis told the congregation after noting she hired three special prosecutors for the 2020 election subversion case. “I hired one White woman, a good personal friend and a great lawyer, a superstar, I tell you. I hired one White man — brilliant — my friend and a great lawyer, and I hired one Black man, another superstar, a great friend and a great lawyer.”
Ms. Willis did not specifically address the veracity of Mr. Roman’s claims about the alleged relationship, which is referred to in court papers but not substantiated in detail.
The district attorney said she plans to respond formally in court and slammed her critics for playing “the race card.”
“God, isn’t it them who’s playing the race card when they only question one?” she said.
While not mentioning him by name, Ms. Willis said Mr. Wade has excellent credentials and was once hired by a Republican in another county and paid twice the rate he is receiving in Fulton County.
Ms. Willis began investigating Mr. Trump three years ago based on his bid to pressure Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to dig up enough votes to overtake President Biden’s narrow electoral victory in the state.
A grand jury last year indicted Mr. Trump and 18 associates under Georgia racketeering charges.
Mr. Roman says Ms. Willis and Mr. Wade may have profited from the prosecution of Mr. Trump and his allies by taking trips after taxpayers paid the special prosecutor. He wants Ms. Willis disqualified.
Mr. Trump says the allegations taint the entire case and that Ms. Willis is in more trouble than he is.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia Republican, has called on state officials to conduct a formal investigation into Ms. Willis and Mr. Wade and how the alleged relationship impacted the case.
In her church address, Ms. Willis called out the congresswoman by name.
“Dear God, I do not want to be like those that attack me,” Ms. Willis said. “I never want to [be like] Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has never met me, but has allowed her spirit to be filled with hate.”
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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