Fani Willis Allegations Won't Save Donald Trump—Here's Why

Allegations that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who is overseeing Donald Trump's Georgia election interference case, engaged in an improper romantic relationship are unlikely to collapse the trial, according to a trial attorney and legal commentator.

Michael Roman, one of Trump's 18 co-defendants in the case, alleged Willis started a relationship with Nathan Wade, who was hired as a special prosecutor. On this basis, Roman's legal team is seeking to have the seven charges against him dismissed, and Willis disqualified from the case. In response, Trump said the charges against him "should be immediately dropped" and also called for an apology and financial compensation.

Trump and the other defendants are accused of breaking the law while attempting to overturn Joe Biden's 2020 presidential election victory in the state of Georgia. The former president has pleaded not guilty to all charges which he alleges are politically motivated. In a separate case, Trump is also facing federal charges related to his attempts to remain president following his 2020 election defeat, in which he also denies any wrongdoing.

Speaking to Newsweek, trial attorney Bernard Alexander, a partner at Los Angeles-based legal firm Alexander Morrison + Fehr LLP, said the case "should not collapse."

Alexander argued the basis of the case is "wholly unrelated to the presumed existence of a relationship between Willis and Wade," and thus prosecution can continue—though he did suggest Wade be removed as a special prosecutor.

In Monday's court filing, Roman's legal team said Willis and Wade had been "engaged in a personal, romantic relationship" prior to the prosecutor being brought onto the case, in what they described as a "self-serving arrangement."

The filing said that Willis had "benefitted substantially and directly, and continues to benefit" from the $650,000 Wade has been paid for the case, some of which it suggested had been used to take Willis on vacation.

Newsweek has so far been unable to verify these claims and reached out to the Fulton County District Attorney's office via email for comment. Newsweek also reached out to representatives of Donald Trump via email for comment.

Alexander told Newsweek that the allegations against Willis and Wade, if true, "undermine the prosecution of the Georgia election interference case." However, he expressed confidence this won't collapse the whole case.

"The decision-making process that determined that prosecution of this election interference case was appropriate is wholly unrelated to the presumed existence of a relationship between Willis and Wade and the actual or potential conflict of interest created," Alexander said.

"The merits and viability of the Georgia election interference case itself should remain intact, based on the objective facts and legal analysis that supported the building blocks for determining that the prosecution of the case was appropriate."

Alexander did say Wade should be "removed and replaced based on the failure to disclose the potential conflict arising from his relationship with Willis" and replaced with "a clearly experienced and qualified special prosecutor."

However, referring to the alleged relationship between Willis and Wade, he added: "Potential and actual conflicts of interest, such as these, routinely arise and are addressed with practical considerations, without throwing the baby out with the bathwater. The entire case should not collapse."