Fani Willis trolled after it is revealed she paid Nathan Wade nearly double the salary of his colleagues

ATLANTA, GEORGIA: In a dramatic turn of events, defense lawyer Ashley Merchant delivered explosive testimony on Wednesday, March 6, alleging a tangled web of impropriety involving embattled Fulton County District Attorney Fani Wills.

Merchant, representing Trump co-defendant Michael Roman, accused Wills of engaging in a questionable affair with prosecutor Nathan Wade, orchestrating inflated billing practices, and even meeting Vice President Kamala Harris prior to indicting Donald Trump.

Salary disparity and billing practices

Merchant's testimony, presented during a Georgia state Senate hearing, added fuel to the fire surrounding Wills' handling of the Trump case.

The defense attorney alleged that Wills paid her boyfriend, prosecutor Nathan Wade, nearly double the salary of his colleagues, totaling more than $650,000 in billing from the DA's office. Moreover, Merchant said there was "pretty much zero" accountability in Wade's billing practices, with Wills allegedly approving his bills without proper scrutiny, Newsweek reported.

The crux of the controversy revolves around the timeline of Wills and Wade's relationship. While Wills denied any impropriety, asserting that Wade's hiring preceded their romantic involvement, Merchant presented evidence suggesting otherwise.

She highlighted over 12,000 exchanged text messages between Wills and Wade before their claimed relationship commencement, raising doubts about the veracity of Wills' statements.

Further complicating matters, Merchant disclosed a meeting between Wills and Vice President Kamala Harris on February 28, 2023, in Washington, DC, with Atlanta Democratic Mayor Andre Dickens also allegedly present.

Although the nature of the meeting remains unclear, its timing in proximity to the Trump prosecution raises questions about potential political influence.

The allegations leveled against Wills and Wade have cast a shadow over the Trump case, with the defense arguing that their relationship and billing practices compromised the integrity of the proceedings. Merchant asserted that the complexity of the case allowed Wade to inflate his billable hours, potentially benefiting himself and Wills financially.

In response to the mounting scrutiny, Wills vehemently denied any wrongdoing, dismissing the proceedings as a "political quest" orchestrated to undermine her commitment to justice. "People are angry because I’m going to do the right thing and stand up for justice," she said. "They can continue their games and I’ll continue to do the work of the people."

During the Senate hearing, Democrat State Sen Harold V Jones II noted that whether Willis is disbarred depends on whether there was "actual unfairness to the defendant" facing charges. "Can you point to any unfairness in the trial that’s taken place?" Jones asked Merchant.

Rejecting the question, Merchant said she argues that there is a conflict of interest because Willis and Wade were “sleeping together, and he was paying for trips for them to go on, and they were hiding it from the taxpayers.”

Social media backlash

Social media was inundated with reactions after it emerged that Willis was paying Wade double the salary of his colleagues.

"Well, he had two jobs," one quipped on X.

"Yep, and he was allowed to have a private practice which is a no-no even if he was a private contractor. Fani gave him the special treatment," another wrote.

"You have to think there will be a mutiny in that office. DAs do not make much as it is and get overworked," someone else chimed in.

"The other employees need to sue for discrimination," another insisted.

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