Bank reports show Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' alleged boyfriend Nathan Wade, whom he appointed as special prosecutor in the case against former President Donald Trump, purchased airline tickets in her name. , it is increasingly likely that the allegations regarding their relationship and possible kickbacks are true. legal experts told the Daily Caller News Foundation on Friday.
Mr. Wade bought plane tickets to Miami and San Francisco in Mr. Willis' name, bank statements filed in court Friday by his wife, Joycelyn Wade, revealed. . The motion filed by President Trump co-defendant Michael Roman to disbar Willis and dismiss the case alleges that Wade previously approved a “lucrative” contract when he took her on vacation. Mr. Willis is alleged to have benefited from this, and legal experts say the allegations contained therein are more likely to be accurate. (Related: Fanny Willis' alleged boyfriend paid for airline tickets in her name, bank statement reveals)
Philip Holloway, an Atlanta-based criminal defense attorney and legal analyst, told DCNF that the bank statements showed that “the money paid to him benefited her in the form of lifestyle purchases.” He said it shows. (Related: Exclusive: Fulton County Commissioner Requests Fannie Willis for Information About Alleged 'Misappropriation' of County Funds)
“I think it supports Mr. Roman’s claim,” he said. “This connects the dots and traces the money coming from the Fulton DA’s office safe and back to Willis in the form of personal travel expenses.”
Bank statements included in Friday's court filing also show payments to Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, which Roman claims they traveled together. There is. According to the statement, Wade made two payments of $1,387 and $1,284 for a Royal Caribbean cruise on Oct. 4, 2022, and a pair of airline tickets to Miami on the same day, including one in Willis' name. It is said that he purchased it.
“I think so [the bank statements]”Combined with Fulton County's slow response, the likelihood that the actual allegations are true increases considerably,” Atlanta-based criminal defense attorney Andrew Fleischman told DCNF.
BREAKING: Nathan Wade, the alleged lover of District Attorney Fani Willis, paid for flights to Miami and San Francisco in her name, according to a court filing filed Friday by Wade's wife in their divorce case. Bank account statements were included. pic.twitter.com/hc4pC48Kdz
— Katelyn Richardson (@katesrichardson) January 19, 2024
“It certainly looks awful,” John Malcolm, deputy director of the Heritage Foundation's Institute for Constitutional Studies and a former assistant attorney general in the Justice Department's Criminal Division, told DCNF. “I'd like to see how the two of them react before definitively saying this all disqualifies them. But these were paid to him (and authorized by her) for case-related work.” If it turns out that it's county funds and the funds were used to pay for a romantic vacation for two people, then certainly yes, it's a disqualification.”
Wade's office has received nearly $654,000 from the Fulton County District Attorney's Office since 2022. according to to county data. He filed for divorce on November 2, 2021, the day after his contract with Willis began.
George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley told DCNF: “This certainly adds to the concerns and further justifies calls for Mr. Willis and Mr. Wade to recuse themselves from the lawsuit.” Told. “Willis could argue that this was simply a relationship in which Wade paid for the flight, as well as paying for meals and other expenses. But it still remains the same in Willis's appointment and salary setting. It raises serious questions about Willis' professional separation from Wade's interests.”
Mr. Willis approved a contract for Mr. Wade to work for $250 an hour, but attorney John Floyd, known as Georgia's top extortion expert, initially agreed to work for $150 an hour, according to obtained contracts and bank statements. He said he only had a contract and was later paid $200 an hour. By DCNF. Willis falsely stated on Sunday that he paid all three special prosecutors in the case the same hourly rate.
Fulton County Prosecutor Fani Willis falsely said on Sunday that all special prosecutors working on former President Donald Trump's case were paid the same hourly rate as his alleged girlfriend Nathan Wade, police said. This was revealed in the documents obtained. @DailyCaller News Foundation program🧵
— Katelyn Richardson (@katesrichardson) January 16, 2024
Mr. Turley previously said that the Department of Justice was indicted Company officials “for using tickets and vacation time in a kickback scheme.”
“That doesn't mean that's what happened here, but payments like this do increase the concern,” he told DCNF.
Fulton County Commissioner Bob Ellis on Friday asked Willis to submit information regarding the alleged misuse of county funds by February 2, 2024, according to a letter obtained by DCNF. A response to the motion filed by Roman is also expected to be filed by February 2nd, and a hearing on the matter is scheduled for February 15th before Judge Scott McAfee.
The District Attorney's Office did not respond to a request for comment.
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