The FBI should issue search warrants for Atlanta District Attorney Fani Willis, while investigating her relationship with attorney Nathan Wade, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani has said.
Willis, D.A for Fulton County, indicted Giuliani, Donald Trump and 17 others for alleged fraud in Georgia in the 2020 presidential election. All of the accused pleaded not guilty but four have since pleaded guilty after reaching a deal with prosecutors.
Wade resigned as chief prosecutor in the case after Judge Scott McAfee said that either he or Willis must recuse themselves as a result of their former relationship.
McAfee accused Willis in March of having a "tremendous lapse in judgment" concerning her relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade. However, she was allowed to remain on the case provided Wade stepped aside, and he resigned shortly afterwards.
Giuliani, who must pay $148 million to two Georgia election workers he falsely accused of election fraud, wrote a very carefully worded criticism of Wade on Wednesday, in which he suggested the FBI should get involved.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, he asked: "Simple question. Why has Georgia and/or the FBI not issued a search warrant for DA Fani Willis and her (alleged) lover Nathan Wade for (allegedly) using the extra and unnecessary approximately $700,000 in state and federal money on (alleged) multiple vacations?"
Newsweek sought email comment from Wade and Willis' offices on Wednesday.
Wade and Willis stated under oath that they had gone on vacations together but denied using public funds to do so.
In August 2023, Trump was charged with 13 counts over allegations he broke the law attempting to overturn his 2020 presidential election defeat in Georgia. He pleaded not guilty to all counts and in March three of the charges against him were dismissed.
Willis has until midday on Monday to recuse herself from the case or face legal action warned Harrison Floyd, former leader of Black Voices for Trump. He alleged Willis illegally recorded a telephone call with his attorney in an unrelated criminal case in Maryland.
On Thursday, Floyd shared screenshots from an article purportedly from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution which claimed Willis's team had shown the publication a recording from a conversation the district attorney had with Carlos J.R. Salvado, who is representing Floyd in a Maryland criminal case.
Newsweek sought email comment from Willis' office on Floyd's claims.
Floyd was charged in Georgia with three charges including racketeering, conspiracy to solicit false statements and influencing witnesses over claims he tried to overturn Joe Biden's 2020 election victory in the state. He pleaded not guilty.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
fairness meter
To Rate This Article
About the writer
Sean O'Driscoll is a Newsweek Senior Crime and Courts Reporter based in Ireland. His focus is reporting on U.S. law. ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
