Ashleigh Merchant, an attorney for defendant Mike Roman who made the allegations about Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and prosecutor Nathan Wade in a court filing earlier this month, speaks in Cobb County Superior Court on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, in Marietta, Ga. (Credit: Natrice Miller/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade have been subpoenaed to testify at a Feb. 15 hearing involving motions to disqualify them from the election interference case, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.
The lawsuit, filed by the law firm of Ashleigh Merchant against the DA’s office, contends the office is intentionally withholding information sought in Open Records Act requests in advance of the upcoming hearing. The DA’s office, in a recent letter, said it has complied with state law.
Merchant represents Michael Roman, one of 15 remaining defendants in the racketeering case that accuses former President Donald Trump of overseeing a criminal conspiracy to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia.
Earlier this month, Merchant filed an explosive motion that argues Willis and her office should be disqualified from the election case because she has been involved in an improper romantic relationship with Wade. The motion said Willis benefited financially from the relationship, with Wade paying for their vacations and hotel stays with taxpayer money he made for his work on the election case.
Wade was expected to be questioned on Wednesday about the alleged relationship with Willis during a hearing in his divorce proceedings. But on Tuesday he settled with his estranged wife on a temporary basis, cancelling the hearing. Willis had been subpoenaed to testify in the divorce case, but Cobb County Superior Court Judge Henry Thompson said he wants to hear from Wade first before deciding whether Willis needs to testify.
Now it appears possible that Willis and Wade will have to testify at the Feb. 15 hearing before Fulton Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, although they may seek to quash Merchant’s subpoenas. Willis, who has yet to directly address thJanuary 2024e allegations, has been directed by McAfee to file a response by Friday.
In addition, Merchant is also seeking to serve subpoenas to other members of the DA’s staff. They include prosecutor Daysha Young, a member of the Trump prosecution team; Deputy District Attorney Sonya Allen, a member of the anti-corruption division who has also entered the race to be Cobb County district attorney; investigators Thomas Ricks and Michael Hill; executive assistant Tia Green; and attorney Dexter Bond, according to documents obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. (Read more: Atlanta Journal Constitution, 1/31/2024) (Archive)