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Some people are calling for the arrest of the district attorney prosecuting Donald Trump over his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia after she was accused of engaging in an "improper" personal relationship with a prosecutor in the case.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis allegedly benefited financially from her relationship with Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade, a private attorney who was hired to prosecute Trump's case, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
The allegation came in a filing by Michael Roman, a Trump campaign staffer who was among the 18 people charged with election interference alongside Trump in August last year. Roman is seeking to have the indictment against him dismissed and for Willis, Wade and the DA's office to be disqualified from prosecuting the case.
The filing alleges that Willis and Wade were romantically involved before Wade was appointed special prosecutor in the case.
It contends that the pair have "been engaged in an improper, clandestine personal relationship during the pendency of this case." It adds that they have been "profiting significantly from this prosecution at the expense of the taxpayers."
According to the filing, Wade has been paid almost $654,000 in legal fees since January 2022 and that Willis' office authorizes the compensation.
It alleges that Wade and Willis have taken several trips together in the time that the special prosecutor was being paid by the DA's office, including trips to Napa Valley and Florida. They also reportedly went on cruises to the Caribbean, paid for by Wade.
The motion offers no concrete evidence of a romantic relationship between Willis and Wade or of the trips they allegedly took together, but cites "sources" close to the pair. Roman's lawyer, Ashleigh Merchant, said it was not filed "without considerable forethought, research or investigation."
A spokeswoman for Willis told the Journal-Constitution that the district attorney's office would respond to the allegations "through appropriate court filings." Newsweek has contacted Willis' office via email, Wade through his firm's website and Merchant through her firm's website.
While the impact of the bombshell allegations in the motion remains to be seen, conservatives and supporters of Trump were quick to call for Willis' arrest on social media.
"Arrest Fani Willis," one account posted on X, formerly Twitter.
William Bart wrote: "This is absolutely abhorrent. #FaniWillis is the corruption she and her Democrat ilk accuse Trump of every day. It needs to stop and somebody needs to arrest Fani Willis. Unacceptable."
Another person wrote: "How far will the Democrats go? It is time to arrest Fani Willis and her associates, Georgia!"
Others called for Willis to resign. "FANI WILLIS MUST RESIGN FOR MISCONDUCT!" Laura Loomer, a Trump ally, wrote on X.
However, some pointed to the lack of evidence included in the motion.
"This sounds like a frivolous suit, with no evidence," one person wrote.
Another wrote that it is "worth noting" the motion "does not contain evidence, was not given under oath, and is a hail mary to stay out of prison."
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About the writer
Khaleda Rahman is Newsweek's National Correspondent based in London, UK. Her focus is reporting on education and national news. Khaleda ... Read more