Ashleigh Merchant: How a Georgia defense lawyer exposed Fani Willis' affair giving Trump a much-needed respite

ATLANTA, GEORGIA: At 46, Ashleigh Merchant doesn't just run marathons in her spare time; she's also running circles around the embattled Fulton County District Attorney, Fani Willis.

As the president of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Merchant has made headlines with her relentless pursuit of justice, particularly in the high-stakes case involving former President Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants.

Ashleigh Merchant challenges Fani Willis

In a bold move, Merchant filed a motion on behalf of her client, GOP political operative Mike Roman, challenging the integrity of Willis' investigation due to her alleged secret relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade.

She argued that Willis should be disqualified from the case because “the district attorney chose to appoint her romantic partner, who at all times relevant to this prosecution has been a married man.”

Merchant's argument, backed by evidence of extravagant trips funded by legal fees from the case, has put Willis on the defensive and raised serious questions about conflicts of interest.

According to Merchant, Wade, an attorney with the Georgia-based Wade & Campbell Firm, used a part of the nearly $654,000 in legal fees that he’s been paid by the Fulton County DA’s Office for the Trump case to take his lover Willis on luxurious holidays to “Napa Valley, California, Florida and the Caribbean.”

A legacy of legal excellence

Merchant's journey to becoming one of the state's most prominent defense attorneys was shaped by her unwavering commitment to justice. After graduating from the University of Florida Law School, she quickly made a name for herself with her fearless advocacy and meticulous attention to detail.

One of Merchant's previous high-profile cases involved the successful defense of a man charged with murdering former beauty queen-turned-history teacher Tara Grinstead in 2005. Despite the tough circumstances, Merchant's dedication and strategic legal approach resulted in a courtroom victory for her client.

For Merchant, the Fani Willis case is not about partisanship but about holding the government accountable and ensuring a fair trial for her clients.

“I am what I would consider a proactive defense lawyer as opposed to a reactive defense lawyer,” Merchant told the New York Post. “Many lawyers only react and defend but I try to take a more proactive approach and investigate every aspect of a case."

“Many lawyers let the government do the investigation and they just try to poke holes in that but I take a very different approach. I try to use the facts and the truth to help defend my clients. And I would never take any action just to upset a case," she noted.

“I only take actions that are carefully investigated and have a legal basis to support them. If the government is trying to send someone to prison, I think a defense lawyer owes a duty to their clients to fully investigate every aspect of a case,” Merchant added.

Speaking of her preparations, Merchant told the outlet, “I ran this morning and it felt amazing! I actually think about cross-examinations and arguments on long runs.”

Colleague and observer testimonies

Colleagues and observers alike spoke of Merchant's unwavering dedication and fearlessness. Dwight Thomas, a prominent Atlanta defense lawyer, described her as aggressive and zealous. 

“Ashleigh’s one helluva lawyer, a real pit bull,” Thomas, 72, told the New York Post. “I’ve known her for many years and she’s aggressive, zealous, and leaves no stone unturned. She thrives on this kind of hard work and pressure and she doesn’t mind ruffling feathers. There’s a lot riding on this hearing and she will be more than ready for it, I can assure you.”

Meanwhile, Democratic-turned-Trump-supporter Vernon Jones sees her as the linchpin in bringing the case against Trump to a halt.

“She’s going to be the person who will bring this (Trump) case to a halt,” Jones told the paper. “She has an explosive, brilliant legal and political mind. She’s the one everyone else (the other co-defendants) is basing their legal strategy on. So goes Ashleigh, so go all the others.”

Merchant's friend and fellow Georgia criminal defense lawyer, Megan Grout, also lauded her fearless approach to legal advocacy.

Grout, who is part of an informal group of female criminal defense lawyers called BAWLS — BAdass Women LawyerS — described Merchant as "utterly fearless and utterly dedicated,” She added, “All you need to know is that my daughter is in law school and she says Ashleigh is her role model — and her mother is a criminal defense attorney!”

Republican lawmakers in Georgia have announced a special Senate fact-finding investigation, with multiple employees from the DA's office eager to testify against Willis. Furthermore, Merchant's own investigation has led to allegations against Willis, including firing a whistleblower from her office and misusing federal funds.

Merchant and her husband, John Merchant III, run their law firm in a Marietta office park. The duo reportedly met at the University of Florida Law School and now juggle their legal careers with raising their two daughters, per the Post.