Text messages between Nathan Wade’s divorce attorney, Terrence Bradley, and an attorney for a co-defendant of Donald Trump communicated frequently via text message, showing damning information about Wade’s affair with Fani Willis.
Bradley, Wade’s former divorce attorney and law partner, took the stand Tuesday, where he was shown a series of text messages in which he spoke about the timeline of Willis and Wade’s relationship – one of the central issues of the trial.
Michael Roman and other co-defendants in Trump’s case are seeking for District Attorney Fanni Willis, 53, to be disqualified over what they term was an ‘improper’ relationship.
The full extent of the messages, which count in the hundreds, were revealed by The Megyn Kelly Show Wednesday.
In them, Ashleigh Merchant – Roman’s lawyer – presses Bradley for information on the affair, even asking on September 18 if she can get an affidavit, to which Bradley says: ‘No… no one would freely burn that bridge.’
Text messages between Nathan Wade’s divorce attorney, Terrence Bradley (pictured), and an attorney for a co-defendant of Donald Trump communicated frequently via text message, showing damning information about Wade’s affair with Fani Willis
Ashleigh Merchant (pictured) – Roman’s lawyer – presses Bradley for information on the affair, even asking on September 18 if she can get an affidavit, to which Bradley says: ‘No… no one would freely burn that bridge’
She asked if Wade’s law partner, Christopher Campbell, would admit to the affair if asked under oath.
‘No,’ Bradley replies. ‘He knows but won’t admit it.’
Another set of messages, sent January 5 – just before Merchant filed a motion requesting that the entire Fulton County DA’s Office, including Wade and Willis, be disqualified – said ‘I assume you knew about the trips’ to Bradley.
The defense attorneys said that Willis benefitted financially by hiring Wade because he paid for trips that they took together with money he earned from the case.
Willis and Wade both testified they split the cost of travel roughly equally.
‘Doesn’t surprise me… they took many trips to Florida. Texas. California,’ said Bradley, after Merchant clarified the trips happened as recently as last summer in ‘May or June.’
Bradley added that they took a trip to California when Willis’ daughter flunked out of Florida A&M University and moved to the Golden State.
‘I can’t believe they were soooo carefree,’ said Merchant. ‘I am trying to anticipate her response when I blow this up.’
Fulton County DA Fani Willis (left) is on trial for financial corruption pertaining to the hiring of her lover Nathan Wade (right) to prosecute former President Donald Trump in the high-profile election interference case
The full extent of the messages, which count in the hundreds, were revealed by The Megyn Kelly Show Wednesday
Another set of messages, sent January 5 – just before Merchant filed a motion requesting that the entire Fulton County DA’s Office, including Wade and Willis, be disqualified – said ‘I assume you knew about the trips’ to Bradley
‘Doesn’t surprise me… they took many trips to Florida. Texas. California,’ said Bradley, after Merchant clarified the trips happened as recently as last summer in ‘May or June’
‘Dang. They had a full on relationship. Insane. Just insane,’ said a stunned Merchant.
Bradley responds: ‘He went to help her move her.’
‘Why she would hire him is insane,’ Merchant adds. ‘Like just date don’t hire him.’
Shortly after, Merchant asks Bradley if he believes they started dating before Willis hired Wade.
‘Absolutely. It started when she left the DA’s office and was judge in South Fulton,’ Bradley replied. ‘They met at the Municipal court CLE conference.’
Merchant said: ‘That’s what I figured. When he was married.’
Two hours later, Merchant texted another question to Bradley.
‘Is this accurate? Upon information and belief, Willis and Wade met while both were serving as Magistrate Judges and began a romantic relationship at that time.’
Merchant at one point asks Bradley if he believes they started dating before Willis hired Wade
‘Absolutely. It started when she left the DA’s office and was judge in South Fulton,’ Bradley replied
Bradley simply wrote back: ‘Arrogance.’
Bradley responded: ‘No Municipal court,’ for which Merchant thanked him, before he added that he might be one of the only people who knows, ‘not even’ Wade’s law partner Campbell.
Merchant later promises that she will protect Bradley’s identity in the motion she’s about to file.
Bradley, when asked by Merchant how they might respond, said Willis and Wade ‘will deny it’ and not attack Merchant.
‘I did hear that but didn’t include because I didn’t have any proof… I am shocked she paid him so much. How did they think they wouldn’t get caught!!!,’ exclaimed Merchant.
Throughout the texts, as revealed by Kelly, Bradley is encouraging of Merchant, telling her she’s ‘the best lawyer I know.’
He even gives her the lead that led to a former friend of Willis, Robin Yeartie, testifying publicly.
‘Do an open records request of all people hired when Fani took office and who was fired around June of 2022… if you get that I will be able to give you the name…. she hired a girlfriend. Like a bestie.’
Merchant later promises that she will protect Bradley’s identity in the motion she’s about to file
On Tuesday, Bradley tied himself in knots on the stand repeatedly telling the court he ‘could not recall’ when asked if Wade and Willis began their romantic connection before he was hired to prosecute the former president in Georgia.
Wade’s former law partner employed the phrase upwards of 10 times while on the stand, including one instance when he told the court: ‘I cannot recall if I lied,’ when asked about former statements he made pertaining to Wade and Willis’ relationship.
Bradley’s dramatic appearance followed equally dramatic revelations that Wade visited DA Fani Willis’ Georgia neighborhood at least 35 times and stayed overnight before she hired him on the Trump investigation team.
Willis and Wade have stood by the story that they began their romantic relationship in 2022, after he he had been tapped for the team charged with looking into Trump’s bid to overturn the election in Georgia. But testimony throughout the hearing, as well as evidence presented in court have poked multiple holes in the claim.
Michael Roman, a political strategist and former Trump campaign staffer, and several other co-defendants in Trump’s case are attempting to kick District Attorney Fanni Willis, 53, off the case, due to what they believe was an ‘improper’ relationship.
They cite her alleged financial benefit from a ‘personal, romantic relationship’ with special prosecutor Wade, whom she hired – on the taxpayer’s dime – to work the case.
Although Willis and Wade have acknowledged their relationship, they have argued repeatedly that it ‘does not amount to a disqualifying conflict of interest’ and that the relationship ‘has never involved direct or indirect financial benefit to District Attorney Willis.’