GA prosecutors accuse Trump codefendant of 'flagrant bad faith' in last-minute announcement
On the eve of a major evidentiary hearing in Fulton County, Georgia, an attorney for one of former President Donald Trump's codefendants in the ongoing RICO case announced plans to call a witness, with the prosecution balking at the eleventh-hour announcement.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, attorney Ashleigh Merchant — who is representing Michael Roman — announced her intent to call attorney Terrence Bradley to the stand ahead of Thursday's scheduled hearing in Fulton County Superior Court. Bradley is the former law partner of special prosecutor Nathan Wade, who is in a personal relationship with District Attorney Fani Willis. The Journal-Constitution's Tamar Hallerman reported that the two have since had a "falling out."
Bradley is reportedly planning to dispute a sworn affidavit Wade submitted under penalty of perjury that his relationship with Willis didn't begin until after she hired him onto her team. Merchant stated that Bradley can prove that Willis and Wade were romantically involved prior to the case, and that the two began cohabitating sooner than Wade stated in his affidavit. Atlanta-based defense attorney Andrew Fleischman, who is not connected to the case, said if Wade committed perjury it would be "extremely serious misconduct" that would not only result in Willis and Wade being disqualified from the prosecution, but could refer them both to the state bar for disciplinary hearings.
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Hallerman tweeted that prosecutors are now asking Judge Scott McAfee, who is overseeing proceedings, to "exclude all evidence and reference to that testimony" during tomorrow's scheduled hearing.
"[Notice of Bradley's testimony] is untimely, incomplete and in direct violation of this court's case management order," a Wednesday filing read. "Compounding the foregoing acts of flagrant bad faith, the Defense has prejudiced the State by foisting this alleged testimony on the eve of the February 15, 2024 motions hearing previously scheduled on January 18, 2024. Clearly, the defendants delayed revelation prevents and precludes the State from adequately preparing for this expert witness."
McAfee has stated that if Merchant can prove her claims, it could "result in a disqualification."
Tomorrow's hearing is scheduled for 9:30 AM ET, and will be televised to the public.
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