It's getting messy in GA- Trump Indictment and Fani Willis

[mrsd2006]

Surely Ms Willis is smarter than this. 

www.yahoo.com/news/judge-orders-unsealing-divorce-case-174921903.html


A judge on Monday ordered court records to be made public in the divorce involving a special prosecutor hired in the election case against Donald Trump and others and accused of having an affair with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.



The judge ordered the unsealing of the divorce involving special prosecutor Nathan Wade after a request brought by a defense attorney who alleges Wade is in an inappropriate relationship with Willis. The judge put off a final decision on whether Willis will have to sit for questioning in the divorce case, but delayed her deposition that had been scheduled for Tuesday.



Willis has defended her hiring of Wade, who has little prosecutorial experience, and has not directly denied a romantic relationship. Willis has accused Wade’s estranged wife of trying to obstruct her criminal election interference case against Trump and others by seeking to question her in the couple’s divorce proceedings.

[mrshandy]

This twist has been very discouraging. I really hope she didn't F up this case because of a personal relationship. It's just too important. I've followed it from the very beginning. I find it hard to believe that she would do it. But there hasn't been anything to dispute it yet. I will withhold judgement until all the facts have laid out.

[wawa]

can somebody hold my hand on this one? my brain is tired.

So the issue is that willis may have appointed wade as special prosecutor because she was boning him?
is this an optics/perception issue or an actual conflic issue? (I mean, both are bad, just trying to understand scale)

[Michelle]

the ex-wife allegedly has proof of plane tickets to Miami and San Francisco in Fani Willis's name, showing they intended to travel together.

Please oh please let those have been conferences and one office reimbursed the other office for the tickets/arrangements.

[mrshandy]

Jan 22, 2024 16:13:08 GMT -5 wawa said:

can somebody hold my hand on this one? my brain is tired.

So the issue is that willis may have appointed wade as special prosecutor because she was boning him?
is this an optics/perception issue or an actual conflic issue? (I mean, both are bad, just trying to understand scale)

Yes. It could just be an optics thing, or it could be more than that with taxpayer money going to fund romantic trips for the two of them together.

From what I've listened to, the lawyer who brought this filing is legit and not one of those crazy Trump lawyers although she is defending one of his codefendents. She wouldn't have made this filing if she didn't have evidence to prove her accusations. So there is likely something there IMHO. Whether it is to the extent of what they said is still TBD. 

Whatever happens it is a huge distraction and will likely delay the case. My guess is that they leave the case and another prosecutor takes over which means this case has zero chance of going to trial before the election. But I'm hoping that I'm very wrong about this and that there is some reasonable explanation for everything.

[underwaterrhymes]

MotherFUCKER.

[Susie]

I'm so disappointed by this distraction from what was/is a really ambitious prosecution of pretty important charges.

[TR]

whatthefuckiswrongwithpeopleomg

[livinitup]

I absolutely do not care that two lawyers were having consenting sex.

[underwaterrhymes]

Jan 22, 2024 20:43:46 GMT -5 livinitup said:

I absolutely do not care that two lawyers were having consenting sex.

The problem is not that they are sleeping together. It’s that she hired him as a special prosecutor (and he’s made over a half a million $$ through this arrangement) and it’s being alleged that they have traveled together using tax payer $$.

Even if only partially true, this is disastrous for the timing of this case.

We cannot afford to be making these kinds of mistakes.

[Velar Fricative]

Jan 23, 2024 6:42:32 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

Jan 22, 2024 20:43:46 GMT -5 livinitup said:

I absolutely do not care that two lawyers were having consenting sex.

The problem is not that they are sleeping together. It’s that she hired him as a special prosecutor (and he’s made over a half a million $$ through this arrangement) and it’s being alleged that they have traveled together using tax payer $$.

Even if only partially true, this is disastrous for the timing of this case.

We cannot afford to be making these kinds of mistakes.

Exactly. This isn’t about consensual sex.

[livinitup]

Jan 23, 2024 7:48:08 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Jan 23, 2024 6:42:32 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

The problem is not that they are sleeping together. It’s that she hired him as a special prosecutor (and he’s made over a half a million $$ through this arrangement) and it’s being alleged that they have traveled together using tax payer $$.

Even if only partially true, this is disastrous for the timing of this case.

We cannot afford to be making these kinds of mistakes.

Exactly. This isn’t about consensual sex.

A qualified lawyer was hired and did work as hired at a fair rate for the market. It’s all on the record and quite normal.

I don’t care that they may or may not have had sexual intercourse.

I am sick to death of the other side framing each and every argument for me while simultaneously IGNORING every reasonable argument I have against them.

[mrsd2006]

Jan 23, 2024 9:55:40 GMT -5 livinitup said:

Jan 23, 2024 7:48:08 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Exactly. This isn’t about consensual sex.

A qualified lawyer was hired and did work as hired at a fair rate for the market. It’s all on the record and quite normal.

I don’t care that they may or may not have had sexual intercourse.

I am sick to death of the other side framing each and every argument for me while simultaneously IGNORING every reasonable argument I have against them.

There seem to be a lot of questions about whether or not he is actually qualified. 


Here is an interesting take that this is not a big deal. 
www.yahoo.com/news/trump-prosecutor-fani-willis-faces-042117320.html

[mrshandy]

Here's a gift article from WaPost on the most recent developments.

wapo.st/42aXk7B

[kittywalker]

Jan 23, 2024 9:55:40 GMT -5 livinitup said:

Jan 23, 2024 7:48:08 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Exactly. This isn’t about consensual sex.

A qualified lawyer was hired and did work as hired at a fair rate for the market. It’s all on the record and quite normal.

I don’t care that they may or may not have had sexual intercourse.

I am sick to death of the other side framing each and every argument for me while simultaneously IGNORING every reasonable argument I have against them.

It's a pretty egregious conflict of interest to hire someone that you are dating, and pay them a lot of money on the taxpayer dime, and not transparently disclose the relationship beforehand. It's not clear that he's qualified. It is clear that her judgment is pretty darn bad. 

[lilac05]

Jan 22, 2024 20:43:46 GMT -5 livinitup said:

I absolutely do not care that two lawyers were having consenting sex.

Would the response be the same if these were a judge and lawyer more likely to side with Trump? I know my reaction would be different.

[starlily]

Jan 23, 2024 11:29:39 GMT -5 kittywalker said:

Jan 23, 2024 9:55:40 GMT -5 livinitup said:

A qualified lawyer was hired and did work as hired at a fair rate for the market. It’s all on the record and quite normal.

I don’t care that they may or may not have had sexual intercourse.

I am sick to death of the other side framing each and every argument for me while simultaneously IGNORING every reasonable argument I have against them.

It's a pretty egregious conflict of interest to hire someone that you are dating, and pay them a lot of money on the taxpayer dime, and not transparently disclose the relationship beforehand. It's not clear that he's qualified. It is clear that her judgment is pretty darn bad. 

Exactly. This is an ethical quagmire not only involving ethics rules for attorneys in general and prosecutors in particular, but also rules that are applicable to public officials and use of public funds.

[SwimDeep]

I've been thinking about this and trying to figure out what I want to say... and what I'm about to type holds no weight because I haven't had the time to research sources to back up my opinion. But I still want to say it.


This is Georgia. The state where Kemp monitored his own election and purged voter rolls and probably committed other shenanigans to steal the governorship from Abrams. The only reason why this possible ethical issue is even a story instead of a footnote is because Fanni Willis is a strong black woman with the nerve to attempt to hold TFG accountable.

So much shady shit happens in my state. And now I'm supposed to believe the mediocre white males who run things care? Nah.

[SwimDeep]

Jan 24, 2024 17:06:55 GMT -5 starlily said:

Jan 23, 2024 11:29:39 GMT -5 kittywalker said:

It's a pretty egregious conflict of interest to hire someone that you are dating, and pay them a lot of money on the taxpayer dime, and not transparently disclose the relationship beforehand. It's not clear that he's qualified. It is clear that her judgment is pretty darn bad. 

Exactly. This is an ethical quagmire not only involving ethics rules for attorneys in general and prosecutors in particular, but also rules that are applicable to public officials and use of public funds.

Respectfully, what are your thoughts on Ken Paxton?

[TR]

Jan 24, 2024 19:41:15 GMT -5 SwimDeep said:

I've been thinking about this and trying to figure out what I want to say... and what I'm about to type holds no weight because I haven't had the time to research sources to back up my opinion. But I still want to say it.


This is Georgia. The state where Kemp monitored his own election and purged voter rolls and probably committed other shenanigans to steal the governorship from Abrams. The only reason why this possible ethical issue is even a story instead of a footnote is because Fanni Willis is a strong black woman with the nerve to attempt to hold TFG accountable.

So much shady shit happens in my state. And now I'm supposed to believe the mediocre white males who run things care? Nah.

No shit. But that’s why you’d think someone handling such a high profile case would be, I don’t know, a little bit fucking careful?

[starlily]

Jan 24, 2024 19:41:57 GMT -5 SwimDeep said:

Jan 24, 2024 17:06:55 GMT -5 starlily said:

Exactly. This is an ethical quagmire not only involving ethics rules for attorneys in general and prosecutors in particular, but also rules that are applicable to public officials and use of public funds.

Respectfully, what are your thoughts on Ken Paxton?

I only know what I've read casually and heard on the Lawyers Behaving Badly podcast. I think he should've been removed from office and probably disbarred too, but Texas is going to keep Texas-ing apparently.

[SwimDeep]

Jan 24, 2024 20:16:58 GMT -5 TR said:

Jan 24, 2024 19:41:15 GMT -5 SwimDeep said:

I've been thinking about this and trying to figure out what I want to say... and what I'm about to type holds no weight because I haven't had the time to research sources to back up my opinion. But I still want to say it.


This is Georgia. The state where Kemp monitored his own election and purged voter rolls and probably committed other shenanigans to steal the governorship from Abrams. The only reason why this possible ethical issue is even a story instead of a footnote is because Fanni Willis is a strong black woman with the nerve to attempt to hold TFG accountable.

So much shady shit happens in my state. And now I'm supposed to believe the mediocre white males who run things care? Nah.

No shit. But that’s why you’d think someone handling such a high profile case would be, I don’t know, a little bit fucking careful?

yes. But I'm a little bit more than pissed off at the hypocritical pontificating (general).

[SwimDeep]

Jan 24, 2024 20:38:34 GMT -5 starlily said:

Jan 24, 2024 19:41:57 GMT -5 SwimDeep said:

Respectfully, what are your thoughts on Ken Paxton?

I only know what I've read casually and heard on the Lawyers Behaving Badly podcast. I think he should've been removed from office and probably disbarred too, but Texas is going to keep Texas-ing apparently.

And Georgia will keep Georga-ing and we'll all just continue to judge women. Cool.

[starlily]

Jan 24, 2024 22:12:39 GMT -5 SwimDeep said:

Jan 24, 2024 20:38:34 GMT -5 starlily said:

I only know what I've read casually and heard on the Lawyers Behaving Badly podcast. I think he should've been removed from office and probably disbarred too, but Texas is going to keep Texas-ing apparently.

And Georgia will keep Georga-ing and we'll all just continue to judge women. Cool.

Are you trying to gotcha me or something? Wtf? I didn't even say that Fani Willis should be punished in any way, since there hasn't been an investigation. I just pointed out the fact that attorneys and public officials usually have statutory ethical obligations that other people don't. And prosecutors sometimes have additional ethical obligations that other attorneys don't. It has nothing to do with judging anyone based on gender.

[thejen626]

I am so fucking tired of only democrats, and women, being held to ethical standards.

We have two rapists on the Supreme Court. Clarence Thomas actively accepting bribes. Straight up congressmen paying young college girls for sex via Venmo. School boards are banning books for no reason. Very young teens being forced to carry pregnancies after being molested and raped.

But oh noes… someone got a job they maybe aren’t qualified for?

I don’t care. At all.

*admittedly I haven’t read any details of this case. So maybe I’m wrong 🤣

[SwimDeep]

Jan 24, 2024 23:23:15 GMT -5 starlily said:

Jan 24, 2024 22:12:39 GMT -5 SwimDeep said:

And Georgia will keep Georga-ing and we'll all just continue to judge women. Cool.

Are you trying to gotcha me or something? Wtf? I didn't even say that Fani Willis should be punished in any way, since there hasn't been an investigation. I just pointed out the fact that attorneys and public officials usually have statutory ethical obligations that other people don't. And prosecutors sometimes have additional ethical obligations that other attorneys don't. It has nothing to do with judging anyone based on gender.

I wasn't trying to gotcha you, no. I was angry last night and I boiled over. I apologize.

[underwaterrhymes]

Jan 25, 2024 0:01:56 GMT -5 thejen626 said:

I am so fucking tired of only democrats, and women, being held to ethical standards.

We have two rapists on the Supreme Court. Clarence Thomas actively accepting bribes. Straight up congressmen paying young college girls for sex via Venmo. School boards are banning books for no reason. Very young teens being forced to carry pregnancies after being molested and raped.

But oh noes… someone got a job they maybe aren’t qualified for?

I don’t care. At all.

*admittedly I haven’t read any details of this case. So maybe I’m wrong 🤣

I happen to agree with these points, but the hypocrisy here is exactly why this matters so much. The GOP is obviously hypocritical as shit and it’s infuriating.

But the GOP is looking for any little thing to get this case thrown out. And as a result, we have to cross every T and dot every I to make sure this case in particular proceeds because it is the only one that Trump cannot pardon himself on if he is elected again.

And, while I think that the GOP comprises a bunch of unethical, lying, bigoted shitheads, I have to admit, I would be pretty upset if this were two GOP attorneys trying to charge President Biden with election fraud and I don’t think I’m alone here.

[Bad Dingo]

If there was a relationship (unproven), is that something that is not ethically allowed? I don't know the workings of DA offices and Special Prosecutors so I really don't know.

If that is something that is expressly forbidden then he should probably be removed as Special Counsel. What are the actual issues with this relationship if it's not forbidden?

The arguments I'm seeing are - misuse of government funds - is that because people are implying that he isn't a good prosecutor and shouldn't have been hired for this position?

I'm with those who don't really see this as a big deal and I think it's being pursued because - Trump, juicy/contentious divorce, black woman in power, more Trump.

[pixy0stix]

Jan 25, 2024 7:59:36 GMT -5 Bad Dingo said:

If there was a relationship (unproven), is that something that is not ethically allowed? I don't know the workings of DA offices and Special Prosecutors so I really don't know.

If that is something that is expressly forbidden then he should probably be removed as Special Counsel. What are the actual issues with this relationship if it's not forbidden?

The arguments I'm seeing are - misuse of government funds - is that because people are implying that he isn't a good prosecutor and shouldn't have been hired for this position?

I'm with those who don't really see this as a big deal and I think it's being pursued because - Trump, juicy/contentious divorce, black woman in power, more Trump.

The biggest issue is that he may not be qualified for the position he holds.

[mrshandy]

Jan 25, 2024 7:59:36 GMT -5 Bad Dingo said:

The arguments I'm seeing are - misuse of government funds - is that because people are implying that he isn't a good prosecutor and shouldn't have been hired for this position?

There is evidence of this. He has very little experience prosecuting criminal cases, no RICO experience, etc. I will say in his favor that grand jury members have stated that they were very impressed with him and enjoyed working with him. 

The optics are bad no matter how you slice it. I would encourage everyone to learn the facts of the case before making judgments which are still coming out. 

It sucks that it had to come to this, but the facts will be laid out and the judge handling this matter will decide how to proceed. Many people with far more legal knowledge than me have been impressed with the way he has handled it so far.