During a court session focused on the corruption hearing of Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis, Terrence Bradley, the former divorce attorney and law partner of special prosecutor Nathan Wade, was visibly taken aback upon being confronted with incriminating evidence regarding Wade’s relationship timeline with Willis. Bradley’s reaction came after being shown a series of text messages he had sent, which led him to mutter “oh dang” under his breath. Despite his previous denials of any knowledge about the relationship, the texts suggested he believed Willis and Wade’s relationship began before Wade’s appointment to lead the state’s investigation into former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.
In a text exchange with defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant, Bradley had indicated that the relationship started when Willis was a judge in South Fulton and that they met at a municipal court CLE conference. This admission contradicts his courtroom claims of merely speculating about the relationship’s timeline without direct knowledge.
Bradley’s testimony revealed inconsistencies, as he admitted to discussing the relationship with Wade in their law office but could not recall when. He also acknowledged seeing a draft of Merchant’s motion, which alleged that Willis and Wade’s relationship began before significant professional milestones, yet he only identified an error related to a payment.
This court proceeding is part of a larger trial where Willis is accused of misusing state and federal funds and engaging in an “improper” relationship with Wade, who was appointed to work on the Trump case. The defense has presented evidence suggesting the relationship began prior to 2022, contradicting Willis and Wade’s claims. The trial has brought to light various facets of Willis and Wade’s association, including luxury travel expenses and sightings of the two being affectionate before 2022, raising questions about their professional and personal conduct.