A crucial witness in the motion to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the Georgia election interference case was far more involved in the effort than previously known.
Terrence Bradley — former law partner and divorce attorney of prosecutor Nathan Wade — testified under oath Tuesday regarding what he knew about Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis and special prosector Nathan Wade’s personal relationship. Bradley took the stand after Judge Scott McAfee determined Bradley couldn’t claim attorney-client privilege.
Text messages have now emerged that show Bradley cooperated extensively with Ashleigh Merchant, attorney for Trump’s co-defendent Michael Roman in the Georgia case, in the effort to disqualify Willis.
KEY WITNESS IN FANI WILLIS CASE TESTIFIES HE MAY HAVE LIED IN TEXTS ABOUT FRIENDS’ AFFAIR
Terrence Bradley, divorce lawyer and former law partner of Nathan Wade, testifies during a hearing into ‘misconduct’ allegations against Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta, Georgia. (Brynn Anderson/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
A cache of over 400 text messages between Bradley and Merchant obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution show continuous back-and-forth exchanges about Willis’s relationship with Wade.
Bradley offered input on individuals to subpoena for testimony on Willis and Wade’s relationship. He also derided Willis as “arrogant,” encouraging Merchant in her motion to disqualify the district attorney from the Trump case.
“I am nervous,” Merchant wrote in a text message on Jan. 8 — just a day after filling the motion. “This is huge.”
Bradley responded, “You are huge. You will be fine. You are one of the best lawyers I know. Go be great.”
JUDGE SAYS NATHAN WADE’S DIVORCE LAWYER MUST TESTIFY ON RELATIONSHIP WITH FULTON CO. DA FANI WILLIS
Attorney Ashleigh Merchant questions former Georgia Governor Roy Barnes during a hearing in the case of the State of Georgia v. Donald John Trump at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta, Georgia. (Alyssa Pointer)
Merchant gave Bradley a copy of her motion before filing, asking for guidance to make sure everything was accurate.
“Anything else? Anything that isn’t accurate?” Merchant texted Bradley.
“Looks good,” Bradley replied.
One piece of information put forth in the text messages ended up falling apart this week when Bradley testified under oath.
“Do you think it started before she hired him?” Merchant asked via text on Jan. 5, three days prior to filing the motion.
“Absolutely,” Bradley replied.
But in court Tuesday, Bradley claimed he was “speculating” in those text message exchanges.
FANI WILLIS, NATHAN WADE REFERRED TO GEORGIA STATE BAR FOR MISCONDUCT BY WATCHDOG GROUP
Willis — the district attorney for Fulton County, Georgia — previously said the allegations brought against her of having an “improper” romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade were made because she is Black. (Getty Images)
Bradely said he couldn’t recall key details or specific information over two dozen times in the roughly two-hour testimony in Fulton County Superior Court Tuesday. He also claimed he had only ever discussed Wade’s relationship with Willis once with Wade.
Lawyers for Trump and his co-defendants who are accusing Willis of having had an “improper” affair with Wade will try to connect evidence that Willis and Wade lied about when their relationship began and should therefore be disqualified from the case.
During their romantic relationship, which ended last summer, Wade and Willis vacationed in wine country in California, the Caribbean and other destinations.
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Roman, a GOP political operative and co-defendant in the Trump case, first alleged that Willis had a conflict of interest in the case because she benefited financially from hiring her lover. Four co-defendants have made similar accusations.
The crux of the defense’s case is whether it can prove with a money trail that Willis has a conflict of interest in the case against Trump and should be disqualified.
Fox News Digital’s Brianna Herlihy contributed to this report.
