A Georgia judge ordered on Monday the unsealing of the divorce case that involves a special prosecutor involved in the election interference case of former United States President Donald Trump.
The latest issue revolves around Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis who is accused of having an improper relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade. However, the newly unsealed court records did not include any references to the affair allegations against Willis.
The judge handling the case ordered the unsealing of the divorce case after a request was brought by a defense attorney. The latter alleged an inappropriate relationship between the district attorney and the special prosecutor.
Furthermore, the judge also put off a final decision on whether or not Willis will be required to sit for questioning in the divorce case. However, he delayed the Fulton County district attorney's deposition that was initially scheduled for Tuesday.
Since the allegations, Willis has defended her decision to hire Wade to be one of the special prosecutors in Trump's election interference case. The district attorney has accused the special prosecutor's ex-wife of trying to obstruct her case against the former president by seeking to question her in the couple's divorce proceedings, as per the Associated Press.
The affair allegations against Willis threaten to taint the prosecution with the Republican primary front-runner and others who are seizing on the claims to attack the case and question Wade's qualifications as a prosecutor. The Republican businessman has pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing in the election interference case.
A judge served Willis a subpoena to sit for a deposition in the divorce case on the same day that Trump's defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant filed a motion alleging the affair. Court documents showed that Wade bought plane tickets in Willis' name and his ex-wife's lawyer argued that there was no reasonable explanation for their travels apart from a romantic relationship.
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Unsealing of Divorce Case
Andrea Dyer Hastings, the lawyer of Wade's ex-wife, Joycelyn Wade, told a judge that Willis was trying to hide under the shield of her position. A lawyer for the district attorney, Cinque Axam, argued that the issue before the court is how to divide the marital assets and noted that the determination of how that should be done has nothing to do with Willis.
During a hearing on Monday, Judge Henry Thompson said that Wade seems to be the first and best source of information on his income and how he spends his money. He also stated that the special prosecutor would have firsthand knowledge of whether or not he is engaged in an extramarital affair, according to CNN.
The Georgia election interference case is one of four that the former president is facing as he tries to win the Republican primary. In the case, prosecutors are using a statute that is typically associated with mobsters to accuse Trump, lawyers, and other aides of a "criminal enterprise" to keep him in power.
So far, four people have already pleaded guilty in the case after reaching deals with prosecutors. The remaining 15, including the former president and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, have maintained their innocence, said ABC News.
