Former President Donald Trump is reportedly considering attending Thursday’s evidentiary hearing investigating allegations that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis compromised her case against him by engaging in a romantic relationship with a subordinate. This information comes from sources familiar with Trump’s plans, as reported by The Washington Post. The potential trip coincides with a scheduled appearance in New York for a pretrial hearing related to accusations that Trump falsified business records to make hush payments to an adult film star.
Trump has developed a pattern of voluntarily attending court hearings, using them as opportunities to amplify media coverage and draw attention to legal proceedings he often characterizes as a “witch hunt” against him.
The focus of Thursday’s hearing is the claim by a co-defendant of Trump, Michael Roman, that Willis was involved in an improper romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, a special prosecutor she hired for the case. Roman alleges that Willis paid Wade at least $728,000 for his services. Roman, a former Trump campaign staffer, faces racketeering charges connected to Georgia’s 2020 election results.
Willis initially remained silent in the face of criticism but later admitted to having a personal relationship with Wade. However, there is a dispute about the timeline of their involvement. Ashley Merchant, Roman’s attorney, asserts that Willis contradicted herself in an affidavit, stating that the relationship began only after the case against Trump was initiated. Whistleblowers have reportedly expressed eagerness to testify before the Georgia legislature, claiming that Willis and Wade were personally involved months before charges were brought against Trump.
While the Washington Post reached out to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office for confirmation of Trump’s potential visit, a spokesperson stated that they were not aware of any plans by the former president to attend on Thursday. This raises questions about whether the local department is prepared to handle the security and logistical aspects associated with a Trump campaign stop.
Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee previously overruled Willis’ objections, allowing the evidentiary hearing to proceed due to concerns about a conflict of interest. McAfee emphasized that disqualification could occur if evidence demonstrated an actual conflict or the appearance of one. He noted that Willis’ admission of a relationship was already on the record. However, discussions about whether Wade was qualified to join the legal team were not entertained, with McAfee asserting that the DA’s office had the right to hire anyone with “a heartbeat and a bar card.”
Beyond the investigation by the Georgia legislature, House Republicans, led by Oversight Committee Chair Jim Jordan, are conducting a separate inquiry. They are exploring whether Willis misappropriated funds intended for youth gang diversion programs to fund her case against Trump. The investigation will also examine whether she improperly coordinated with Jack Smith, a special counsel from the Biden Justice Department, who has brought federal election interference charges against Trump.
