“I’m not on trial,” Willis testified in federal court during an evidentiary hearing on a motion to disqualify her from the case, as she gestured toward a group of lawyers representing Trump and other defendants. “These people are on trial for trying to steal an election in 2020.”
Trump and 18 co-defendants were indicted last August on racketeering charges for allegedly taking part in a conspiracy to overturn Democrat Joe Biden’s victory over then-President Trump in Georgia in November 2020.
One of those co-defendants, Michael Roman, filed a motion last month claiming Willis was engaged in a romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade. The motion, which Trump later joined, went on to allege that Willis benefited financially from the relationship through trips she and Wade took financed with Fulton County taxpayer money.
Willis filed a response to Roman’s motion earlier this month, acknowledging the romantic relationship but arguing it does not constitute grounds for disqualifying her from the case.
A key point in contention during Thursday’s daylong hearing was when the relationship started. Robin Yeartie, a former friend of Willis who worked as an executive assistance to the district attorney, testified Thursday that Willis and Wade began dating in 2019 shortly after meeting at a conference.
But under cross-examination, Yeartie revealed that she had a falling out with Willis in March of 2022 that led to Yeartie resigning from the district attorney’s office.
“A situation happened that wasn’t my fault,” Yeartie said. “I was either going to resign or be let go.”
Both Willis and Wade, who also testified on Thursday, said their romantic relationship started much later, in early 2022 after Wade was hired in late 2021.
Both were asked extensively about several trips they took together to Belize, on a cruise to the Bahamas, and to California’s Napa Valley. Wade said he paid for all of the trips except the trip to Belize – which Willis paid for as a birthday gift to Wade – but that she always reimbursed him with cash to cover her portion of the expenses.
“She is a proud, independent woman,” Wade said. “She’s going to pay her way.”
“I don’t need any man to foot my bills,” Willis added later when it was her turn on the witness stand.
Lawyers representing Roman, Trump, and several other defendants were openly skeptical that Willis repaid Wade with cash for her portion of their trips without either having records to back up their testimony. But Willis said she always has kept cash around on the advice of her father.
Willis also defended her decision not to tell any of the members of her prosecution team that she was involved in a romantic relationship with Wade.
“I am extremely private,” she said. “I didn’t tell my business to the world.”
Willis said her romantic relationship with Wade ended last summer, although the two remain good friends.
While Willis was required to testify at Thursday’s hearing in response to a subpoena, she said she was anxious to tell her side of the story.
“I’m not a hostile witness,” she said. “I very much want to be here.”
The hearing before U.S. District Judge Scott McAfee will continue Friday.
ATLANTA – Legislation aimed at limiting local property tax increases overwhelmingly cleared the Georgia Senate Thursday.
Under Senate Bill 349, which passed 42-7, local governments would be prohibited from raising residential property assessments more than 3% annually.
The measure also changes provisions relating to public notices of a local government’s intention to increase property taxes, changes the process for appealing a tax assessor’s valuation of a residential property, and alters the process for settlement conferences regarding valuations.
“Our goal has always been to keep costs low for Georgia families,” said Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who presides over the state Senate and made property tax relief a priority for this year’s legislative session. “This bill will make the taxation process both less confusing and less expensive for Georgia taxpayers.”
The bill now moves to the state House of Representatives.
ATLANTA – Longtime state Rep. Butch Parrish will take the reins as chairman of the powerful House Rules Committee, House Speaker Jon Burns announced Thursday.
Parrish, R-Swainsboro, succeeds the late Rep. Richard Smith, R-Columbus, who died suddenly last month at the age of 78 while fighting the flu.
Parrish is currently serving his 20th term in the Georgia House of Representatives. He represents House District 158, which includes Candler, Emanuel and Treutlen counties, along with portions of Bulloch County.
Parrish chairs the House Special Committee on Health Care, which Burns created last year to coordinate the work several standing committees have been doing to improve the quality of health care in Georgia.
“Chairman Parrish has done an exceptional job representing his district, fighting for our rural communities, and championing policies that lift up every Georgia family – including most recently with his work to improve health care across our state,” said Burns, R-Newington. “I am confident that Chairman Parrish will serve the Georgia House and the people of our great state extremely well in this new role.”
The Rules Committee acts as the House’s “traffic cop,” deciding which bills make it to the House floor for a vote.
“Throughout my time in the House, I have strived to bring an open mind, focus on the facts, and deliver results for my constituents and the people of Georgia,” Parrish said. “That’s what I intend to continue to do as Rules chairman.”
ATLANTA – Albany State University President Marion Fedrick is leaving the university later this year to take a new position within the University System of Georgia.
Fedrick will become executive vice president and chief of staff to Georgia State University President Brian Blake effective July 1, Fedrick announced Wednesday in a letter to the Albany State community.
University System Chancellor (USG) Sonny Perdue also has asked Fedrick to serve additionally as his senior advisor to the system’s three historically Black colleges and universities.
“Marion has built a formidable reputation within USG for her resourcefulness and creative ability to support the success of faculty, staff, and students,” Perdue said Wednesday. “I’m grateful she’s staying within the system to continue her stewardship in public higher education.”
Fedrick joined Albany State in 2017 and became the university’s 10th president a year later. Before that, she was the university system’s vice chancellor for human resources. She previously held administrative and human resources posts at Clark Atlanta University, Emory University Hospitals, the state of Georgia’s Office of State Personnel Administration, AT&T, and the former BellSouth Corp.
“The importance of Albany State to USG and to the Southwest Georgia community cannot be overstated, and it’s been an absolute honor to have been part of building up this next generation of leaders,” Fedrick said. “While I’m excited about the opportunities ahead, a part of my heart will always remain in Albany.”
A first-generation college student, Fedrick is a certified senior human resources professional. She holds three degrees from the University of Georgia: a bachelor’s degree in adult education, a master’s degree in public administration, and a doctorate in education.
Georgia Commissioner of Economic Development Pat Wilson
ATLANTA – Georgia exports hit an all-time high last year for the third year in a row, the state Department of Economic Development reported Wednesday.
The state exported $49.7 billion in goods in 2023, eclipsing the previous record of $47 billion set the year before. An estimated 87% of those exports came from small businesses.
“These numbers are further evidence of just how Georgia means opportunity for all,” Gov. Brian Kemp said Wednesday. “International trade touches every county in the state, supporting jobs in logistics, manufacturing, agriculture and more.”
Top exports for 2023 included civilian aircraft products, motor vehicles, turbojets and turbines, poultry, and pulp products. Canada, Mexico, China, Germany, and Singapore were the top destinations for Georgia exports.
State Commissioner of Economic Development Pat Wilson credited Georgia’s export successes to his agency’s representatives working in overseas markets.
“By leveraging their unique understanding of the markets where they’re located, they play a significant role in both the lives of our small businesses and in moving the needle to increase our state’s overall exports,” Wilson said.
Georgia’s top bilateral trading partners last year were Mexico, South Korea, Canada, China, and Germany, with notable year-over-year growth in trade between Georgia and South Korea. Markets where Georgia maintains full-time representation accounted for 67% of exports and 71% of bilateral trade in 2023.
