Key witness in Fani Willis case testifies he may have lied in texts about friends’ affair
On Tuesday, former law firm partner and divorce attorney Terrance Bradley testified under oath about his knowledge of the personal relationship between Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade. The testimony followed a ruling by Judge Scott McAfee that Bradley couldn’t use attorney-client privilege as a defense.
Under oath, Bradley admitted to being uncertain about various details and timelines related to conversations with Wade regarding Wade’s romantic involvement with Willis. During the testimony, defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant referred to text messages where she asked Bradley if he believed the relationship began before Willis hired Wade in 2021. In the messages, Bradley unequivocally stated, “absolutely.”
Attorney Richard Rice questioned Bradley about spreading falsehoods regarding his friends, particularly in cases of national significance. Rice asked if Bradley has a habit of lying about friends, to which Bradley replied, “I could have, I don’t know.” Throughout his approximately two-hour testimony in Fulton County Superior Court, Bradley claimed not to recall key details or specific information over two dozen times. Additionally, he stated that he had discussed Wade’s relationship with Willis only once.
FULTON COUNTY DA FANI WILLIS ACCUSED OF LYING ABOUT TIMING OF AFFAIR WITH TRUMP PROSECUTOR
This month, Bradley dodged some questions by claiming attorney-client privilege, and McAfee, skeptical of the validity, plans an “in-camera” meeting to verify. Bradley, once partners with Wade, who’s accused of a questionable affair benefiting Willis financially, is under scrutiny. Bradley, claiming no contact with Wade for two years after a decade-long friendship, faces potential misuse of attorney-client privilege allegations.
Bradley, who briefly served as Wade’s lawyer during his divorce, refused to answer some questions about Wade and Willis’ relationship, citing attorney-client privilege. However, McAfee determined that Bradley’s testimony wasn’t privileged. This led to Tuesday’s testimony, likely the final evidence before final arguments on Friday.
Trump’s lawyers accuse Willis of an “improper” affair with Wade. They aim to prove that Willis and Wade lied about when their relationship started, seeking to disqualify them from the case.
Willis’ father, John C. Floyd III, recently testified, confirming Willis’ claim that he taught her to keep cash for reimbursing Wade for trips. Floyd stated he met Wade in 2023 and only learned about their romantic relationship seven weeks ago during court filings alleging Willis’ impropriety.
Wade and Willis, who were romantically involved until last summer, enjoyed vacations together in places like California’s wine country and the Caribbean. Now, in the Trump case, Michael Roman, a GOP political operative and co-defendant, claims Willis had a conflict of interest due to financial benefits from hiring her romantic partner. Four others have echoed these allegations.
The defense hinges on proving a money trail, demonstrating that Willis’s financial ties create a conflict of interest in the case against Trump, potentially leading to her disqualification.
GEORGIA DA FANI WILLIS WILL NOT TESTIFY FOR SECOND DAY ON ‘IMPROPER’ AFFAIR WITH NATHAN WADE
Willis claimed she repaid Wade for vacation costs in cash, yet neither of them produced receipts. The defense, led by Merchant, aims to establish a pre-existing romantic relationship between Willis and Wade before Wade joined the DA’s office.
Both Willis and Wade asserted that their connection only began in 2022, contradicting Robin Yeartie’s testimony. Yeartie, a former close friend of Willis and ex-employee at the DA’s office, presented conflicting information.
During the two-day court session, Yeartie confidently stated that Willis and Wade’s romantic involvement began in 2019 after meeting at a conference. She claimed to witness them hugging and kissing, expressing affection until November 2021. Willis countered this testimony, discrediting Yeartie and ending their friendship.
The most noteworthy moment came when Willis unexpectedly took the stand. Described as “belligerent” by an expert, her testimony added a surprising twist to the proceedings.