For Some Georgia Democrats, the Fani Willis Relationship Damage Has Already Been Done

The allegations against the Georgia prosecutor have “cast a shadow” over the sprawling case against Trump and his codefendants.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis testifies during a hearing on the Georgia election interference case.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is under pressure over conflict-of-interest allegations. Alyssa Pointer/AP

Georgia Democrats say they’re not worried about whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis will be taken off her case against former President Donald Trump. But they are worried that no matter what happens in the court of law, the damage has already been done in the court of public opinion.

Defense lawyers in the sprawling case against Trump and 14 others stemming from the 2020 election have seized on Willis’ romantic relationship with attorney Nathan Wade, who Willis hired to help the prosecution. Willis and Wade both say their relationship, which they testified is now over, began after he was hired. But the defense lawyers’ case centers around the testimony of Robin Yeartie, a former friend of Willis’, who testified on Thursday that the relationship began years earlier. Willis, testifying after Yeartie, firmly denied that account.

“One witness saying the relationship began before 2022 doesn’t seem like enough to me,” said Marc Silverman, a Georgia Democratic pollster and former practicing attorney.