In a surprising turn of events, defense lawyer Ashleigh Merchant, who is representing one of Donald Trump’s co-defendants in the Georgia election fraud case, has come under scrutiny for her past support of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ former boyfriend, prosecutor Nathan Wade.
Photos filed in court have revealed that Merchant volunteered for Wade’s election campaign when he was running for a judgeship in 2016.
Merchant made headlines in February for her aggressive cross-examination of Willis and Wade, suggesting that their relationship influenced Wade’s appointment as a prosecutor in the election fraud case and questioning his qualifications for the role.
Fani Willis (Credits: AP News)
The photos submitted to the court show Merchant campaigning for Wade at the Marietta Greek Festival in Georgia on May 15, 2016. In one post, Merchant is seen wearing a campaign T-shirt and promoting Wade’s candidacy. In another post from May 9, 2016, she praised Wade’s ethics and qualifications for the judgeship.
The revelation of Merchant’s past support for Wade has added a new layer of complexity to the already contentious legal battle surrounding Trump and his co-defendants. Trump, who has pleaded not guilty to all 13 charges against him, has repeatedly claimed that the case is politically motivated.
Willis and Wade’s decision to submit the Facebook posts to Judge Scott McAfee, who is overseeing the trial, suggests that they believe Merchant’s past support for Wade could undermine her credibility and impartiality in the case. The photos could also raise questions about the motivations behind Merchant’s aggressive tactics in court.
The trial of Trump, Roman, and the other defendants continues to be a highly charged and closely watched affair. The revelation of Merchant’s past support for Wade adds another twist to the legal drama, highlighting the complex web of relationships and motivations at play in the case.
