Cellphone data implies Fani Willis, Nathan Wade misled about relationship start
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Nathan Wade testified under oath that their romantic relationship began after Willis was appointed to indict 19 Republicans for challenging Georgia’s 2020 election results and paid Wade taxpayer funds to assist her. But cellphone data included in a new court filing calls those claims into question.
On Friday, former President Donald Trump’s attorneys submitted a legal filing including purported data “collected from Wade’s cellphone and cellphone tower transmissions.” That data indicates Wade made “at least 35 visits to the Hapeville neighborhood where Fani Willis was living before the district attorney hired him to lead” her get-Trump prosecution, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC). The data appears to contradict Wade’s claims in court that “he had visited Willis at her condo in Hapeville no more than 10 times before he was hired in November 2021.”
Willis and Wade maintained under oath last week that their romantic relationship did not begin until spring 2022 — months after Wade was appointed special prosecutor on Nov. 1, 2021 — and lasted until summer 2023. The defendants argue in their filings that the approximately $1 million Willis paid Wade to assist in prosecuting them constitutes a financial conflict of interest that disqualifies the prosecution. The defendants say Wade used substantial portions of the taxpayer money she paid him to take Willis on expensive vacations.
While the two parties also claimed Wade never spent the night at Willis’s Hapeville condo, the data included in Friday’s legal filing appears to contradict these claims. According to AJC, the cellphone information shows Wade twice arriving at Willis’ condo late in the evening and departing “early the next morning in the months before [the former lovers] said their relationship became romantic.”
One such incident allegedly occurred on Sept. 11, 2021. The court documents say Wade’s phone that day was shown leaving “the Doraville area and arriv[ing] in the vicinity of Willis’ Hapeville address at 10:45 p.m.” The device purportedly did not leave the area until 3:28 a.m. and later made its way to East Cobb at 4:05 a.m., “shortly before Wade sent a text to Willis.”
If proven true, these revelations would corroborate testimony from Robin Bryant-Yeartie last week. A former friend of Willis who also worked in the Fulton County attorney’s office, Yeartie claimed there was “no doubt” Willis and Wade’s romantic relationship began earlier than the two maintained, and that she witnessed them “hugging” and “kissing” as early as 2019.
During her testimony, Willis denied the allegations and lashed out at the lawyers of the 19 Republicans she’s attempting to prosecute for raising questions about her relationship with Wade. When pressed on whether Wade ever visited her home, for example, Willis picked up several documents before her and accused the defense of lying about the situation.
“So let’s be clear ’cause you lied in this. … Let me tell you which one you lied in. … Right here. I think you lied right here,” Willis said, grasping the papers. While Judge Scott McAfee attempted to gavel her down, Willis continued, shouting: “No, no, no, this is the truth. It is a lie! It is a lie!”
A spokesman for Willis told AJC the DA’s legal team plans to file a response to the allegations raised in Trump’s filing “via the court.” It now falls on McAfee — who previously worked under Willis and donated to her political campaign — to decide whether the aforementioned cellphone data and accompanying affidavit may be entered as evidence.
Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. He previously served as a state content writer for Convention of States Action and his work has been featured in numerous outlets, including RealClearPolitics, RealClearHealth, and Conservative Review. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnFleetwood
How do the revelations from the cellphone data and testimonies impact the credibility of Willis and Wade as witnesses in the case challenging Georgia’s election results?
Accused of challenging Georgia’s 2020 election results. She became visibly upset when the subject of her relationship with Wade was brought up, claiming that the defense was attempting to distract from the charges against the Republicans.
The revelations from the cellphone data and testimonies have raised serious questions about the credibility of Willis and Wade’s claims. If the data is proven to be accurate, it would contradict their statements under oath and undermine their credibility as witnesses. The defense argues that this conflict of interest, coupled with the misuse of taxpayer funds by Wade, should disqualify Willis from prosecuting the case.
Furthermore, the cellphone data suggests that Wade had made numerous visits to Willis’s Hapeville neighborhood before he was officially hired by her as a special prosecutor. This contradicts Wade’s claim that he had only visited Willis’s condo a few times before being hired. The data also indicates that Wade had spent the night at Willis’s condo on at least two occasions before their alleged romantic relationship began.
These allegations are further supported by the testimony of Robin Bryant-Yeartie, a former friend and colleague of Willis. She testified that she had witnessed Willis and Wade engaging in romantic behavior as early as 2019, contradicting their claims that their relationship began in spring 2022. Bryant-Yeartie’s testimony adds further doubt to the timeline presented by Willis and Wade.
The significance of these revelations cannot be understated. The integrity and impartiality of the legal process are essential to ensuring justice is served. Any perception of bias or conflicts of interest can erode public trust in the legal system. If these allegations are true, they raise serious questions about the motives and actions of Willis and Wade, as well as their suitability to lead the prosecution.
It is now up to the court to carefully consider the evidence presented and make an impartial decision. The credibility of the witnesses and the accuracy of the cellphone data must be thoroughly examined. It is essential for the court to ensure a fair and unbiased trial for the 19 Republicans accused of challenging Georgia’s election results.
Ultimately, the outcome of this case will have far-reaching implications, not only for the individuals involved but also for the public’s confidence in the legal system. The allegations of a romantic relationship, financial conflicts of interest, and misuse of taxpayer funds are serious and require thorough investigation. The truth must be uncovered and justice must prevail.
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