An attorney for one of former President Donald Trump's co-defendants on Monday pointed to inconsistencies in statements given under oath by special counsel Nathan Wade.
Ashley Merchant, who represents Michael Roman, said Wade filed an affidavit in his divorce case in May 2023 claiming he never had a relationship with anyone other than his spouse during their marriage. Ta. But in a Feb. 1 affidavit attached to the state's response to Roman's motion to disqualify Fani Willis, Wade acknowledged that they had been in a relationship since 2022.
“There are two affidavits filed in two different courts, both sworn, both filed in court, but saying completely different things,” Merchant said during Monday's hearing. told Judge Scott McAfee. “So we definitely have a dispute judge.”
Romance is motion In January, Willis was disqualified, claiming she benefited financially by giving Wade a lucrative contract to work on the case when he took her on vacation with the money he earned. asked that the lawsuit be dismissed. Merchant said Wade updated the affidavit he filed in the divorce case in Cobb County Superior Court after Roman filed a motion asserting Fifth Amendment privilege.
McAfee on Monday acknowledged that Roman's disqualification is a possibility given the evidence presented, and that a hearing scheduled for later this week to clarify the allegations will move forward. (Related: Judge thwarts Fani Willis' attempt to avoid testifying)
“The state acknowledged that a relationship existed,” McAfee said. “[W]Even if there is an economic benefit, its existence and extent have not yet been proven. Therefore, I think there is a possibility that the facts asserted by the defendant could lead to disqualification, and I think an evidentiary hearing should be held to establish the record regarding these core allegations. ”
🚨BREAKING: Lawyers seeking to subpoena Trump prosecutors Fani Willis and Nathan Wade highlighted that Wade filed two different affidavits in separate courts regarding his inappropriate relationship with Willis.
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In May 2023, Wade filed a petition in divorce court… pic.twitter.com/RDEv2qyAT2
— KanekoaTheGreat (@KanakoaTheGreat) February 12, 2024
The seller filed the claim on Friday. filing Witnesses she planned to call at the hearing would deny Wade's claims and testify that their relationship began much earlier. She said in her filing that Terrence Bradley, a former law partner who represented Wade during the early stages of his divorce case, said the two had cohabited many times and that Willis was serving as district attorney. He said he had “personal knowledge” that the relationship began before he took office.
McAfee on Monday deferred ruling on Willis' attempt to quash the subpoena until the hearing begins.
Wade did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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