Fani Willis appears during a Fulton County court hearing on Feb. 15, 2024. (Law&Crime Network)
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis stormed into a court hearing about her romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade late Thursday afternoon, saying she wanted to testify about the affair — in a sharp volte-face from prior court filings.
"We need her in here to go over all of this and to explain exactly what happened," a defense attorney argued. "We ask the court that the court allow Ms. Willis to be called and interrogated on these matters."
"And I would too, your honor," Willis interjected — glaring expectantly back and forth at the judge and the defense attorney.
The state then withdrew its motion to quash the subpoena filed against her and several employees and hires of her office in late January by attorneys representing co-defendant Michael Roman, a former staffer for Donald Trump's 2020 election campaign.
Willis took the stand and quickly demanded three filings previously submitted in the case by Marietta-based attorney Ashleigh Merchant. After a short break, Willis was sworn in and quickly went on offense.
"It's ridiculous to me that you lied on Monday and here we still are," the district attorney told Roman's lead counsel — combative remarks that immediately set the tone for the ensuing back-and-forth.
Merchant asked a series of questions about whether Willis and Wade ever discussed the allegations in Roman's motion to disqualify the prosecutorial pair. Willis repeatedly parsed and answered those questions by calling the defense attorney a liar in various ways.
"I am sure I told him what my opinion of it is and past that we had no substantive conversation," Willis said at one point.
The district attorney gave a long answer in response to a question about the circumstances of meeting Wade at a conference for municipal court judges in October 2019 — prompting another defense attorney to object to Willis responding with a "speech."
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee told the district attorney to try and keep her answers more concise.
"It is highly offensive when someone lies on you," Willis said. "And it's highly offensive when they try to implicate that you slept with somebody the first day you met with them and I take exception to it."
When Merchant interjected a short time later to try and reign in the length of the district attorney's responses, the judge suggested the witness could be led into giving shorter replies if that's what the defense wanted to do. The state objected to treating Willis as hostile.
McAfee explained that the district attorney would not be treated as hostile — but, instead, as a witness with adverse interests.
To which Willis quipped: "Ms. Merchant's interests are contrary to democracy, your honor, not to mine."
The prevarication motif was often reprised by the district attorney.
"It is a lie!" Willis shouted at one point – prompting McAfee to call a brief recess in order take control over the flaring tempers on display.
Fani Willis shouts at defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant during court hearing on Feb. 15, 2024. (Law&Crime Network)
"We all know what professionalism looks like; what decorum looks like," the judge said after reconvening the proceedings. "I would urge everyone to keep those principles in their mind."
The district attorney's loud disapprobation came in response to a series of questions about whether she ever "cohabitated" with Wade.
As the hearing resumed and the questions over the two prosecutors staying in the same residence together also resumed, Willis often hit on some of her preferred notes – calling Merchant and other defense attorneys liars, the allegations against her lies, and using long-drawn-out responses to further chastise opposing counsel in various ways.
That final habit earned the elected official a formal rebuke from the court – on two separate occasions.
"You have to listen to the questions as asked," McAfee cautioned Willis. "And if this happens again and again, I'm going to have no choice but to strike your testimony."
The judge warned Willis again when she gave a lengthy reply to a question – from Donald Trump's Atlanta-based attorney Steve Sadow – about her father living in a condominium she rented from her former friend and district attorney's office colleague, Robin Yeartie.
Earlier in the day, Yeartie testified that Willis and Wade began their romance in late 2019 – directly disputing prior court filings in which both Willis and Wade have claimed it began in 2022. The two prosecutors stood by that timeline when they took the stand.
The district attorney's exchanges with Sadow grew increasingly contentious as the day went on. On top of the long-winded warning to Willis, McAfee often told the defense attorney to keep things moving and not to ask questions that had already been answered.
Willis frequently complained about inaccuracies being advanced through the questions themselves. Sadow frequently raised his voice.
"I will certainly re-state it so it is very accurate," the defense attorney said at one point – regarding a question about the nature of the "personal relationship" between Willis and Wade.
"OK," Willis said. "And please do not yell at me."