District Attorney Fani Willis was under pressure in court Thursday over her relationship with prosecutor Nathan Wade, prompting explosive outbursts of “dont be cute with me” and “it’s a lie!” — the latter of which brought proceedings to a halt.
District Attorney Fani Willis was under pressure in court Thursday over her relationship with prosecutor Nathan Wade, prompting explosive outbursts of “dont be cute with me” and “it’s a lie!” — the latter of which brought proceedings to a halt.
The Embattled Fulton County, Georgia, DA and her ex-lover were scrutinized over the timeline and nature of their relationship in the high stakes hearing which will decide if she is fit to continue in her prosecution of election fraud charges against Donald Trump and others.
Willis had a number of run-ins during blistering questioning by lawyer Ashleigh Merchant — who represents Trump co-defendant Mike Roman — about whether Wade had ever slept over at an apartment that Willis subleased from a friend.
“It’s a lie! It’s a lie!” Willis screamed into the microphone, prompting Judge Scott McAfee to immediately call a five-minute break.
After the break and after Willis and Merchant continued to interrupt and talk over each other McAfee warned Willis: “You have to listen to the question as asked and if this happens again and again I’m going to have no choice but to strike the testimony.”
During another heated exchange when Merchant questioned about how she split bills with Wade, Willis shot back: “That was cute, but I didn’t give him money in a contract … don’t be cute with me and think you’re not gonna get an answer.”
Willis has testified her relationship with Wade, who she hired as special prosecutor on the case, started in 2022 and ended in 2023.
Roman has argued in court papers their relationship started earlier and is unethical and has asked for Willis to be removed from prosecuting his case.
After weighing the evidence heard Thursday and Friday judge Scott McAfee will make a decision.
Willis — wearing a red dress — first unexpectedly appeared in the Fulton County courtroom, in Atlanta around 2 p.m. after Wade had finished testifying.
