Fani Willis’ Testimony: Key Takeaways

The ongoing Georgia election subversion case against Donald Trump and 14 others has taken an unexpected turn. Two top prosecutors testified under oath about their romantic relationship at a hearing triggered by allegations of self-dealing, which has the potential to derail the indictment. The all-day hearing escalated throughout the day, culminating in a combative brawl between Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and defense attorneys. The judge convened the hearing after some of Trump’s co-defendants surfaced allegations of a relationship between Willis and Nathan Wade, whom she hired in 2021 to join the prosecution team. Trump and his co-defendants want the judge to disqualify Willis’ team from the case or throw out the charges because of a possible conflict of interest.

The hearing will continue Friday, with Willis still on the stand. Judge Scott McAfee said he does not plan to issue a ruling on Friday. Some of the key takeaways from the hearing are jaw-dropping, awkward, and strikingly personal.

Willis’ afternoon on the stand was marked by defiant behavior, which is extremely rare in American courtrooms. She defended her ethics and answered personal questions about her relationship with Wade. The risks for Willis could not be greater, and her credibility is on the line. There were moments when Willis acted more like a prosecutor than a witness, leading to rebukes from the judge and confrontations with defense attorneys. She repeatedly accused some of the defense attorneys of lying and defended herself vehemently.

Wade testified that his romantic relationship with Willis began in early 2022 and that they split travel and vacation expenses. However, a former friend of Willis contradicted that claim, testifying that she had “no doubt” that the Willis-Wade affair began in late 2019. There were disputes over when the relationship ended and whether it had any impact on the decision to seek the massive RICO indictment against Trump and others in August 2023.

Willis and Wade have offered a simple explanation for why there’s essentially no paper trail to back up his claims that they split expenses: Willis used cash. They have taken lavish trips together and used cash for reimbursements, which became a point of contention during the hearing.

Nothing that happened on Thursday undercut the factual allegations against Trump and his allies, who are accused of trying to overturn the 2020 election. However, the hearing shifted the conversation away from those allegations and away from Trump’s legal woes for the time being.

The hearing will continue on Friday, and a separate New York judge is expected to issue a decision in the Trump civil fraud case, which is an existential threat to his business. State prosecutors want that judge to issue a $370 million fine against Trump, after finding that Trump and his company committed significant fraud against banks and insurers by lying about his net worth and assets. They also want Trump barred from doing business in New York.

Overall, the groundbreaking developments in the Georgia election subversion case have captivated the nation and have far-reaching implications for those involved. CNN’s extensive team contributed to this report.

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