Fani Willis, the Fulton County District Attorney in charge of the prosecution of former President Donald Trump for election interference, testified about keeping thousands of dollars worth of cash in her house as lawyers for Trump seek to have her removed from the case due to conflict of interest.
Attorneys for Trump and his co-defendant Mike Roman are asking for Willis and prosecutor Nathan Wade to be removed from the case for alleged corruption. They claim that the alleged corruption was evidenced by a clandestine romantic relationship between the DA and her appointed prosecutor. Trump’s attorneys accuse Willis and Wade of improperly using the prosecution of Trump for their own financial benefit.
The trial court in the election interference case held a special hearing to determine if there was misconduct by the DA’s office on February 15, during which both Wade and Willis were examined by defense lawyers under oath. The hearing adjourned for the day and is expected to resume on February 16.
An agitated Willis was questioned about trips she and Wade took together to Belize, Aruba, and the Bahamas, which she claimed were paid for in cash and therefore not documented in a paper trail.
“When I travel I always pay cash,” Willis testified.
Willis, who was chastened for giving lengthy answers to straightforward questions throughout her testimony, denied that Wade ever stayed at her home for an intimate evening.
Throughout her testimony, Willis took exception to the basis for the hearing, accusing the defense attorneys conducting the examination of impropriety. Willis told Ashleigh Merchant, an attorney for defendant Roman, “You’re confused. You think I’m on trial.”
“These people are on trial for trying to steal an election in 2020,” she said during one of many confrontational exchanges with Merchant.
The hearing resumes on Friday.