ATLANTA — Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade have been subpoenaed to testify at a Feb. 15 hearing over a motion to have them thrown off the 2020 election interference case, an attorney representing one of the cases codefendants told 11Alive.
The information surfaced in lawsuit filed by the firm of Ashleigh Merchant against the DA's office Tuesday. The lawsuit alleges Willis' office has "refused, without adequate explanation" to provide information sought under the state's Open Records Act ahead of next month's hearing.
The Fulton County DA's Office contended in a recent letter that it followed state law. It's unclear if they'll try to fight the subpoenas. A spokesperson for the DA's office did not respond to questions before publication. This story will be updated once a response is received.
Merchant represents Mike Roman, a Philadelphia GOP consultant and a codefendant of former President Donald Trump in election racketeering case. Merchant filed a motion on Roman's behalf earlier this month, alleging that Wade and Willis were engaged in an improper romance and misused taxpayer funds.
Records submitted in Wade's ongoing divorce proceedings in Cobb County allege that he purchased airline tickets for Willis to San Francisco and Miami, among other items. Wade also paid for hotels and cruises around the same time, but it's unclear if Willis was with him. Roman's team alleges that Willis improperly benefited because Wade used money he made from the election case to pay for the trips.
Recently unsealed documents in the divorce case reviewed by 11Alive showed no further proof of an alleged romance. Wade and Willis have not directly addressed the allegations.
Merchant's motion seeks to disqualify Wade, Willis, and the Fulton County District Attorney's Office from the case. The motion also seeks to have the case dismisses. Attorneys for Trump and codefendant Bob Cheeley also joined Merchant's motion.
Merchant has served or seeks to subpoena several current DA's office employees and a former law partner of Wade, according to documents obtained by 11Alive. They include:
- Fulton prosecutor Sonya Allen
- Christopher Campbell, Wade's current law partner
- Fulton prosecutor Dexter Bond
- Fulton prosecutor Daysha Young
- Fulton investigator Michael Hill
- Tia Green, an executive assistant to Willis
- Robin Bryan Yeartie. According to her LinkedIn profile, she is a former Public Affairs/Media Relations Program Manager for the Fulton County District Attorney's Office.
- Terrence Bradley, Wade's former law partner
- Capers Green, Chief of Investigations for the DA's office
- Thomas Ricks, Assistant Chief Investigator for the Fulton County DA's Dignitary Protection Unit
Merchant also seeks to subpoena records from travel companies Vacation Express USA Corp and H20 Limited related to Willis and Wade's alleged travel. Roman's team is also seeking additional bank and credit card records tied to Wade and his law firm.
"The court gave us an evidentiary hearing and we look forward to proving the allegations set forth in our motion," Merchant told 11Alive. "The best evidence, in addition to the documentary proof, is testimony from Mr. Wade and Ms. Willis. We look forward to providing them the opportunity to tell their side of the story."
Wade avoided testifying in the his ongoing divorce trial Tuesday after he reached a temporary agreement with his estranged wife, Joycelyn.
The DA's office has a Feb. 2 deadline to respond to the motion to disqualify. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee will hear arguments on the motion during the Feb. 15 court hearing.
McAfee is the judge overseeing the case against Trump and 14 others for alleged criminal interference in the 2020 election.