Georgia DA Fani Willis will not testify for second day on 'improper' affair with Nathan Wade
In a surprise move, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis will not testify for a second day against claims she had an 'improper' affair with Nathan Wade, a lawyer she hired to help prosecute former President Trump and others accused of conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election.
Witness and attorney Terrence Bradley answers questions during a hearing in the case of the State of Georgia v. Donald John Trump at the Fulton County Courthouse ( Alyssa Pointer-Pool/Getty Images)
Star witness for the defense team Terrence Bradley revealed late in questioning Friday afternoon that he was accused of sexual assault by someone at the law firm at which he was a parnter, along with special prosecutor Nathan Wade.
In questioning by state attorney Anna Cross, Bradley admitted that a large reason he left the law firm was because an employee at the firm accused him of sexual assault, though he denied the allegation.
Bradley indirectly admitted that he paid the employee who accused him.
The admission is key because earlier in his testimony Bradley testified that the reason he left the firm was related to Wade's divorce proceedings, and therefore covered by attorney client privilege, because Bradley served as Wade's divorce lawyer for a time.
Judge Scott McAfee said that Bradley's admission re-opens questions about what Bradley refused to answer about what he knew about Wade and Fani Willis' romantic relationship and when he knew. Bradley refused to answer citing attorney client privilege.
"Mr. Bradley previously testified that the reason he left the firm was totally and completely covered by privilege. When asked by the state, he went into a factual scenario that, to my mind, I don't see how it relates to privilege at all. And so now I'm left wondering if Mr. Bradley has been properly interpreting privilege this entire time," the judge said.
McAfee said he would schedule an in-camera hearing with Bradley to determine matters of privilege in the testimony.
Judge Scott McAfee adjourned the hearing after two days of testimony in the allegations that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis had an "improper" affair with special prosecutor Nathan Wade.
The judge said he would hold an in-camera meeting with Terrence Bradley to discuss his testimony, some of which that the state argued was attorney client privileged.
Bradley revealed he was accused of sexual assault by an employee of the firm at which he was once partner at with Nathan Wade.
The state attempted to call a woman to the witness stand they said would testify to the allegations of assault - which Bradley denied - but the judge said that testimony was outside the scope of the rules of evidence for the hearing.
The state said the woman's testimony would impeach Bradley's credibility.
Judge McAfee said he would hold a summation hearing of all the evidence presented in the next week or two.
Judge Scott McAfee said he will hold an in-camera meeting with star witness Terrence Bradley and defense lawyers but keep it under seal of the court, after roughly an hour of debate of attorney client privilege.
Defense lawyers are pushing Bradley, special prosecutor Nathan Wade’s former law partner, about when he knew Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis and Wade first began a romantic relationship – and if his knowledge of the relationship corroborates their testimony.
Bradley served as Wade’s divorce attorney for a time, which lawyers for the state keep invoking as a matter of privilege.
At an undetermined time after Friday’s hearing, Judge McAfee will be able to hear all the answers from the witness and then decide how much weight he will give to that testimony after he decides whether it is admissible or not based on privilege.
Fox News’ Claudia Kelly-Bazan contributed to this report
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal seen partying with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (Getty Images)
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal attended the inauguration for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, a witness said Friday.
Terrence Bradley, the former law partner for Nathan Wade who also served as his divorce attorney, was being grilled on the stand by Trump's lawyer, Steve Sadow, about whether he ever socialized with Wade or Willis before Nov. 1 , 2021.
Bradley said he recalled being at Willis' inauguration in January 2021 where O'Neal was present.
"Out to eat with both of them before When was she sworn in?" Bradley asked. "I’m sorry. When was she sworn in? There was a dinner. There was a dinner before. I mean, when she was sworn in that I attended, Shaquille O’Neal was there. So it was like her inauguration."
"So I’m thinking that’s before 2021. So I would say yes. In early January of 2021," he added.
Bradley said he didn't recall socializing with Wade or Willis after that or before Nov. 1, 2021.
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