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Trump special prosecutor Nathan Wade’s former law partner and divorce attorney seemed to admit in a text message read aloud in an Atlanta court Friday that Wade and District Attorney Fani Willis were in a relationship before 2022 — contradicting the timeline the former lovers gave in their respective testimonies a day earlier.

The marathon two-day hearing into the details of Willis and Wade’s affair wrapped Friday afternoon.

There is a chance the two prosecutors could be disqualified from the case if evidence is produced that shows “an actual conflict or the appearance of one,” Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee said.

Willis and Wade — whom the DA appointed as a special prosecutor in the Georgia election fraud case — had both been seeking to get out of testifying at this week’s hearing, where a Trump co-defendant is seeking to have the case dropped against him over the prosecutors’ alleged misconduct.

Embattled Fulton County DA Willis, who brought criminal charges of racketeering and election meddling in the 2020 presidential election against the former president and 18 other defendants, testified Thursday about when her tryst with Wade began.

Willis yelled out “It’s a lie!” from the witness stand when defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant questioned her about sleepovers the pair allegedly had at her home.

This live blog has ended.

What we covered in the Fani Willis-Nathan Wade misconduct probe

Misconduct probe into DA Fani Willis' affair with prosecutor Nathan Wade wraps

By Priscilla DeGregory

The marathon two-day hearing into the details of District Attorney Fani Willis' affair with lead Trump prosecutor Nathan Wade wrapped Friday afternoon.

The marathon two-day hearing into the details of District Attorney Fani Willis' affair with lead Trump prosecutor Nathan Wade wrapped Friday afternoon. REUTERS
Prosecutor Nathan Wade in court
Prosecutor Nathan Wade in court Thursday, where he testified that he was in a relationship with the DA from March 2022 until summer 2023. AP
Judge Scott McAfee
Judge Scott McAfee said Friday he wants closing arguments in the case late next week or the following week. Then he'll determine whether to remove the prosecutors from the criminal case against Trump and 18 co-defendants. Getty Images

Judge Scott McAfee said he would set a date for closing arguments once he consulted all of the lawyers on their schedules. But he said he hoped it would be set for late next week or the following week.

Nathan Wade's former law partner abuses attorney-client privilege to get out of questioning about alleged sexual assault

By Priscilla DeGregory

Nathan Wade's former law partner and one-time divorce attorney misused the attorney-client privilege to get out of answering questions about his alleged sexual assault.

Terrence Bradley had initially invoked the privilege when asked why he parted ways from the law firm he, Wade and another man had together.

Nathan Wade's former law partner and one-time divorce attorney Terrence Bradley testifies
Nathan Wade's former law partner and one-time divorce attorney Terrence Bradley admitted the reason he left the firm was because he was accused of sexually assaulting an employee. AP

But when he was cross-examined by Anna Cross, a lawyer with the Fulton County DA's office, Bradley admitted the reason he left the firm was because he was accused of sexually assaulting an employee — a claim he adamantly denied on the stand.

Judge Scott McAfee said the fact that Bradley improperly invoked attorney-client privilege — citing his time repping Wade in a divorce case to avoid answering the questions about the reason for his departure — called into question Bradley's use of the privilege to avoid questions about Wade and Willis' relationship.

Special prosecutor Anna Cross, who is representing the district attorney's office, speaks to attorney Andrew Evans, who is representing another Fulton County Special Prosecutor, Nathan Wade.
Special prosecutor Anna Cross, who is representing the district attorney's office, speaks to attorney Andrew Evans, who is representing another Fulton County Special Prosecutor, Nathan Wade. Reuters-USA TODAY NETWORK

"Mr. Bradley testified the reason he left the firm was totally covered by privilege," McAfee said. "I don’t see how it relates to privilege at all."

McAfee said he wondered if Bradley understood when attorney-client privilege actually can be used and said he would question Bradley with his lawyer in chambers and without any of the other parties present, to see what he knew about the affair and if it was covered by the privilege or not.

Ashleigh Merchant -- a lawyer for Trump co-defendant Mike Roman -- claimed that Bradley knew Wade and Willis were together earlier than they claimed.

Cross called a former employee of the firm, Austin Dabney, after to ask him about the sexual harassment allegations but McAfee blocked the testimony, saying it would be a trial within a trial on a side issue -- which is not allowed.

Defendant Trevian Kutti — charged alongside former president Trump in the racketeering and 2020 election fraud case — sits in the gallery during Friday's hearing.
Defendant Trevian Kutti — charged alongside former president Trump in the racketeering and 2020 election fraud case — sits in the gallery during Friday's hearing. Getty Images

In text message from Nathan Wade's ex-law partner and divorce attorney, he seemingly admits Wade-Willis affair started before 2022 — contradicting what they said in testimony

By Priscilla DeGregory

Trump special prosecutor Nathan Wade's former law partner and one-time divorce lawyer seemingly admitted in a text that Wade and District Attorney Fani Willis were in a relationship before 2022 — contradicting the timeline Wade and Willis testified to yesterday in this misconduct hearing.

Lawyer Ashleigh Merchant asked witness Terrence Bradley about messages she exchanged with him about Wade and Willis' relationship.

witness terrence bradley, judge mcafee and attorney ashleigh merchant
Nathan Wade's former law partner and one-time divorce lawyer, seemed to admit in a text read in court today that Wade and District Attorney Fani Willis were in a relationship before 2022 — contradicting what they both said in court yesterday. Getty Images
Terrence Bradley, Trump special prosecutor Nathan Wade's former law partner, on the witness stand
Lawyer Ashleigh Merchant asked witness Terrence Bradley about messages she exchanged with him about Wade and Willis' relationship. AP

"I sent you a statement saying [Wade and Willis] met while serving as a magistrate judges and they started a relationship at that time, and you corrected me and said, 'No, it was municipal court,' " Merchant asked Bradley while reading from their text messages.

Willis became Chief Municipal Judge for South Fulton in Georgia in 2019, a position she gave up when she was elected as DA in 2021, placing the time frame Bradley was referring to in that period -- well before the pair say they first got romantic in 2022.

Judge Scott McAfee ultimately barred this message and other messages from coming in as evidence, finding they were covered by attorney-client privilege from Bradley's time working as Wade's divorce attorney.

"He may have told you something, but there is no evidence the client ever waived or allowed him to convey that to you," McAfee said.

Defense lawyer Ashleigh Merchant in court
Defense lawyer Ashleigh Merchant, who represents one of Trump's co-defendants in the 2020 election meddling case — asked Bradley on Friday about messages she exchanged with him about Wade and Willis' relationship. Getty Images

Another text between Merchant and Bradley that the judge said couldn't come in as evidence was from Sept. 18, 2023, when Merchant asked Bradley if he knew anyone who would put a statement in an affidavit about Wade and Willis' relationship.

"No, no one would freely burn that bridge," Merchant said, reading from Bradley's text to her.

Bradley also admitted that he saw Willis come to the office he and Wade shared two times with a security team and he believed it was when she was DA. But Bradley couldn't put a date on either occassion.

And he admitted that Wade once used Bradley's business credit card to book a trip, but Bradley said he didn't know when that was or any details of the trip.

He said he couldn't remember if Wade paid him back with cash or a check.

Nathan Wade's former partner, divorce lawyer recalled to the witness stand

By Priscilla DeGregory

Nathan Wade's former law partner and divorce lawyer, Terrence Bradley, was recalled to the witness stand.

Bradley was let off the stand Thursday after he refused to answer any questions about Wade on the grounds of attorney-client privilege.

Ashleigh Merchant, a lawyer for Donald Trump co-defendant Mike Roman, claims Bradley told her that Wade and Willis actually began their romantic relationship earlier than 2022, when the duo claim they started their tryst.

So far Bradley's testimony has been moving forward at a snail's pace as objections keep getting raised by lawyers for the district attorney's office.

Judge says DA Fani Willis' dad seeing news of her testimony goes against his credibility

By Priscilla DeGregory

District Attorney Fani Willis' dad, a retired longtime lawyer, admitted he'd seen news of his daughter's testimony Thursday, going against a rule that all witnesses keep clear of other testimony.

John Floyd III, father of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, testifies during a hearing
John Floyd III, father of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, testifies during a hearing in Atlanta on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. Getty Images
John Floyd III, father of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, being sworn in
Judge Scott McAfee is hearing testimony as to whether Willis and Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade — who is leading the 2020 Georgia election fraud case against ex-president Donald Trump — should be disqualified from the case for allegedly lying about their personal relationship. REUTERS

The fact was revealed toward the end of John Floyd's questioning, prompting lawyer Ashleigh Merchant — who represents Donald Trump co-defendant Mike Roman — to ask that all of Floyd's answers be stricken from the record for him not following the rule of sequestration.

Judge Scott McAfee said he wouldn't strike Floyd's testimony but he would consider it against the father's credibility.

The hearing is on break until 1 p.m.

DA Fani Willis' dad testifies his daughter keeping cash at home is 'a black thing'

By Priscilla DeGregory

District Attorney Fani Willis' dad, John Floyd, testified that the fact his daughter kept large amounts of cash at home was "a black thing."

Floyd prefaced the answer by saying he didn't want to be racist but added: "It’s a black thing. Most black folks, they hide cash. They keep cash."

John Floyd III, father of Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis, enters the courtroom during a hearing on the Georgia election interference case, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, in Atlanta. The hearing is to determine whether Willis should be removed from the case because of a relationship with Nathan Wade, special prosecutor she hired in the election interference case against former President Donald Trump. (Alyssa Pointer/Pool Photo via AP)
Fani Willis' father testified that squirreling away cash is a "black thing." AP

The father said he had always squirreled money away himself and that since Willis was young, he'd instructed her to keep six months' worth of money at home. In fact, he'd bought her her first safe, he said.

On Thursday, both Willis and former boyfriend Nathan Wade, a special prosecutor in the Daniel Trump case in Fulton County, testified that they roughly split the costs of vacations they went on together and that while Wade would pay for the trips up front, Willis repaid him in cash.

The duo were separately pressed about whether they had any proof of these reimbursements -- which they admitted they didn't.

Trump's side has claimed that Willis improperly appointed her boyfriend to lead the election fraud case and she then benefited from his pay when he treated her to vacations -- a claim they have both adamantly denied.

Fani Willis' dad testifies about death threats, vandalism at her Georgia home

By Priscilla DeGregory

District Attorney Fani Willis' dad testified that while he lived with his daughter in her Georgia home, the pair regularly received death threats, vandalism and people harassing them outside the home.

John Clifford Floyd said he first moved in with her in 2019 -- and then in 2021, after she was sworn in as DA, they suddenly were subjected to an onslaught of hate and threats so severe that Willis had to move out.

John Floyd III, father of Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis, is sworn in to testify on the witness stand during the hearing in the case of State of Georgia v. Donald John Trump, at the Fulton County Courthouse, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., February 16, 2024. REUTERS/Alyssa Pointer/Pool
John Floyd III spoke about the racist death threats he and his daughter received in Goergia. REUTERS

"There were people outside of her house cursing and yelling and calling her the n-word and the b-word," he said.

"There had been so many death threats and they said they were going to blow up the house,' Floyd said. "They were going to kill me and they were going to kill the grandchildren."

He said someone actually sprayed the n-word and the b-word onto the house -- which he cleaned up and never told Willis about.

Floyd said a police car had to be stationed outside the house at all times, and at least once a day, a bomb-sniffing dog would be taken around the perimeter of the home.

DA Fani Willis' dad testifies he never met or heard of Nathan Wade until 2023, saw her prior beau 'often'

By Priscilla DeGregory

District Attorney Fani Willis' dad testified that he didn't meet or hear about her lover and lead Donald Trump prosecutor Nathan Wade until 2023 -- while he'd seen her prior boyfriend "often."

John Clifford Floyd III, a retired prolific trial attorney, said under oath that when he lived with daughter Willis starting in 2019 in her Georgia home, he saw her then-boyfriend, a DJ nicknamed "Deuce," "often."

Nathan Wade in court.
Fani Willis' father testified that he had never seen or heard about Nathan Wade. Getty Images

Floyd -- who was called as a witness by the Fulton County DA's Office -- said that in contrast, he never even heard of or met Wade until 2023.

Floyd said Wade told him he met him once briefly years prior at Willis' swearing in as DA, but he didn't remember the encounter.

Ashleigh Merchant, a lawyer for Trump co-defendant Mike Roman, asked Floyd whether Willis ever told him about her relationship with Wade prior to him meeting Wade in 2023.

"No," Floyd answered.

Former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes testified he turned down the chance to lead the Trump prosecution

By Priscilla DeGregory

Former Gov. Roy Barnes -- who was in office from 1998 through 2003 -- testified Friday that District Attorney Fani Willis approached him to lead the Donald Trump election fraud case in 2021, but he turned the job down.

Barnes -- who has been in private law since he left public office -- was called as the first witness by the Fulton County DA's Office on Friday morning.

Barnes said when Willis asked him to work the case, he replied, "I'm not interested."

The former politician was likely called to help buttress Willis' testimony from Thursday that Nathan Wade -- with whom she had an affair -- was not her first choice for the prestigious position.

Trump questions 'Does anybody really believe' DA Fani Willis following her testimony Thursday

By Priscilla DeGregory

Donald Trump questioned on social media whether "anybody really believe[s]" District Attorney Fani Willis' testimony about her relationship with lead Trump prosecutor Nathan Wade.

"Does anybody really believe that Fani Willis paid cash to her 'lover' whenever they took expensive 'trips' together," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post Friday morning.

"Really? Where did she get the CASH? Pretty weak questioning yesterday!!! I guess they don’t want to insult her. No way she can explain any of this corruption away!!!"

On Thursday, Willis and Wade each testified they roughly split the cost of the vacations they went on together and that while Wade paid for them up front, Willis repaid him in cash.

Trump blasts DA Fani Willis scandal as 'embarrassment' to Georgia

By Priscilla DeGregory

Donald Trump took to social media overnight to blast District Attorney Fani Willis' affair scandal as a "humiliating embarrassment" to Georgia, following her three hours of testimony Thursday.

"They’re talking about the Georgia 'Fani Scandal' all over the World," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social just after midnight.

"I can’t believe the Georgia State Judiciary, or the Governor, can be happy about this humiliating embarrassment," he wrote.

Willis brought criminal charges against the former president and others for allegedly interfering in the 2020 election.

But the real estate tycoon blasted the charges as a "FAKE CASE" in his rant.

Hearing on hold while lawyers prep to duke it out about if next witness can get out of questions using attorney-client privilege

By Priscilla DeGregory

The hearing is on hold while the lawyers and the judge review questions that attorney Ashleigh Merchant plans to ask her next witness, Terrence Bradley -- who on Tuesday refused to answer anything about Trump prosecutor Nathan Wade's affair with DA Fani Willis, citing attorney-client privilege.

Lawyer questioning Fani Willis.
Merchant has called Nathan Wade and Fani Willis to the stand. AP

Merchant, who represents Donald Trump co-defendant Mike Roman, will argue why Bradley shouldn't be able to get out of answering all her questions simply because he was once Wade's divorce attorney.

On Thursday, Judge Scott McAfee expressed skepticism about Bradley's blanket use of attorney-client privilege, but Merchant moved the hearing along by calling her next witnesses -- including Wade and Willis.

A confused looking judge
Court proceedings were on hold while lawyers planned how to question witnesses. Getty Images

Bradley, who was also Wade's one-time law partner, isn't expected to be in court before 10:30 a.m. because he had a doctor's appointment in the morning.

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