Embattled Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis called her former lover, special prosecutor Nathan Wade, a “southern gentleman” when she took the stand Thursday in a court hearing.
As Willis took the stand, she appeared to wink at the audience and smirked at the lawyers and spectators in the room.
Willis, who was notably adverse to defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant, said she “had some choice words about some of the things” Merchant and her client, Michael Roman, said in their motion, calling it “dishonest.” Roman alleged in court filings last month that Willis should be disqualified from the case, claiming that she financially benefited from hiring Wade because of their personal relationship.
Willis, in describing her discussions with Wade about the motion, called him a “southern gentleman.”
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis testifies during the hearing at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta on Feb. 15, 2024.
“I don’t know that it was a conversation. As you know, Mr. Wade is a Southern gentleman. Me, not so much,” she said.
Willis also called Merchant’s interests “contrary to democracy.” At one point, Willis held up a printed copy of the allegations against her and turned to the judge, yelling, “This is a lie!”
Nathan Wade testifies during the hearing at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta on Feb. 15, 2024. (Alyssa Pointer-Pool/Getty Images)
Judge Scott McAfee, presiding over the proceeding, told lawyers to stop “talking over each other” and cautioned Willis, saying, “We have to listen to the questions as asked. And if this happens again and again, I’m going to have no choice but to strike your testimony.”
Ashleigh Merchant, attorney for Michael Roman, listens next to her husband, John Merchant, who also represents Roman, during a hearing in the case at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta on Feb. 12, 2024. (Alyssa Pointer-Pool/Getty Images)
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Willis took the stand following several witnesses, including Wade and Willis’ former friend, Robin Yeartie, who testified that she had “no doubt” Willis and Wade had a “romantic” relationship that started in 2019, contradicting Willis’ prior statements to the court.