An attorney for the Fulton County district attorney's office on Friday said the defense's questions to DA Fani Willis about any financial gain were meant to “embarrass and harass” her in order to disqualify her over allegations she benefited from a romantic relationship with top prosecutor Nathan Wade.
Delivering closing arguments at a hearing over whether a judge will remove Willis from the Donald Trump Georgia election interference case, attorney Adam Abbate argued Trump co-defendants’ attorneys' line of questioning during prior hearings had “absolutely nothing to do with the proceedings.”
“For example, the lien on her alleged house, that was highly irrelevant, had nothing to do with the proceedings and the exchange of money between the district attorney and Mr. Wade,” Abbate said. “The point of that line of questioning was to, again, embarrass and harass the district attorney in a way that was very public, and in a way that was to impugn her character ... in front of anyone watching,” Abbate said.
The defense during its closing arguments had argued that there was a low bar to prove a conflict of interest and remove Willis from the case, and an appearance of a conflict is all that is necessary to do so.
The DA’s office contested that actual proof of conflict of interest is required, and that the defense’s questions around Willis’ financial gain were based on “speculation” and “conjecture.”
“I agree that money actually changed hands is not speculation and conjecture, but whether that money that changed hands had any financial benefit or gain to the district attorney, that is all speculation and conjecture,” Abbate said. “I would submit to the court, absolutely, all speculation and conjecture to harass and honestly embarrass the district attorney, based on some of the questions that were asked.”
Judge Scott McAfee said he will hopefully have a decision within the next two weeks on whether or not to disqualify the district attorney.
