A court in Georgia announced on Friday that the evidence hearing concerning the potential disqualification of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has, for the time being, come to a close.
Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor Willis appointed to head the case, may still be able to claim attorney-client privilege over certain testimony and evidence from Terrence Bradley, his former law partner and divorce attorney. As a result, the lawyers will probably have to meet again in the coming weeks to address outstanding issues, as CNN reported.
There will be an opportunity for both the prosecution and the defense to submit further legal briefs. Willis herself went so far as to testify during the two-day contentious evidentiary session.
In an effort to cast doubt on Bradley's reliability, the district attorney's office brought up an accusation of sexual assault by a former law firm employee just before the hearing ended. The accusation was refuted by Bradley.
While testifying earlier Friday, Bradley claimed the specifics of his "disagreement" that led to his departure from the firm were confidential.
The question of whether Bradley resigned due to a dispute over a sexual assault accusation was put to him during cross-examination. Despite his denial, Bradley acknowledged the sexual assault accusation leveled against him by a colleague at the firm.
In light of Bradley's testimony regarding the accusation, the judge supervising the case, Scott McAfee, questioned whether he had correctly interpreted the privilege he had already claimed over communications with Wade.
Nathan Wade's former law partner and attorney has been the target of persistent questions from the defense team on the nature and start date of Wade's relationship with District Attorney Fani Willis.
When questioned about details he gleaned from Wade, Terrence Bradley—Wade's former divorce lawyer—repeatedly invoked attorney-client privilege. The presiding judge has limited the questions that counsel can ask Bradley and has acknowledged the existence of the privilege.
To be fair, Bradley did admit that Willis's defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant had provided him a copy of the dismissal request a few days prior to its January filing.
Among the claims made in the lawsuit was that Willis reaped financial benefits from an inappropriate romantic relationship he had with Wade.
Bradley responded to Merchant's move by text and stated, "I said, 'looks good.'" He went on to explain that his reaction was based on confidential conversations with Wade.
Using the term "disagreement," Bradley explained his departure from the legal practice in which he and Wade had been partners.
Bradley stated, that "the disagreement is mine to know." None of that does much to dispel accusations that things were handled unprofessionally and Fani Willis's career is in serious jeopardy.
