ATLANTA — Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis seeks to block subpoenas that would require her and members of her staff to testify at a hearing next week to determine if she should be removed from the 2020 election interference case over alleged misconduct.
Willis seeks to quash subpoenas filed by Trump codefendant Mike Roman, a GOP operative from Philadelphia, ahead of a Feb. 15 hearing over motions to disqualify Willis.
Roman alleges Wade and Willis are engaged in an improper personal relationship that has financially benefited the prosecutors. Roman alleges Wade used portions of the money he made from the election case to pay for him and Willis to travel to Napa Valley and the Caribbean.
Willis and Wade admitted having a "personal relationship" that started in 2022 but rejected claims of improper financial benefits. The Fulton DA's office wants the disqualification motions dismissed without a hearing.
In Wednesday's filing, Willis argued that Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee should reject subpoenas for her and eight members of her staff. They are:
- Executive District Attorney Daysha Young
- Deputy District Attorney Sonya Allen
- Deputy District Attorney Dexter Bond
- Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade
- Assistant Chief Investigator Michael Hill
- Deputy Executive Assistant Tia Green
- Chief of Investigations Capers Green
- Assistant Chief Investigator Thomas Ricks
Willis called the subpoenas a form of "harassment" and "disruption."
"Each of these subpoenas appear transparently to be an attempt to conduct discovery in a (rather belated) effort to support reckless accusations made in prior court filings," the DA office said in its motion. "The subpoenas should be quashed."
Wednesday's motion was one of several related to allegations against Willis. Former President Donald Trump and seven codefendants are currently seeking to disqualify the district attorney, according to defense attorneys and documents obtained by 11Alive.
Trump filed a reply to Willis Wednesday, doubling down on his claim that the DA should be disqualified from the case because of her comments during her church speech.
"Contrary to the DA’s response, Georgia law authorizes and compels the disqualification of the DA for her extrajudicial prosecutorial comments in violation of her special ethical responsibilities as a prosecutor. Once again, President Trump respectfully asserts that the DA’s egregious misconduct requires the dismissal of the indictment and her disqualification," said Trump attorney Steve Sadow in a statement.
Willis is seeking an August trial for Trump and the remaining 14 co-defendants. A trial date has not been set.