In new court filings, a defendant in the Georgia case of election interference involving the former President Trump claimed that Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis and a leading prosecutor in the matter are in ‘improper’ romantic relationships. This makes the indictment ‘fatally defective.

Mike Roman, an operative based in Philadelphia who worked as Trump’s director for Election Day Operations on his 2020 reelection bid and is facing seven criminal charges, has not provided any evidence to support the allegations.

Ashleigh Merchant claimed in court documents that “sources” close to Willis and Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor, indicated they were involved in a “continuing, personal, and romantic relationship.”

The instant motion is not being filed lightly. Merchant wrote that the motion was not filed lightly, nor without much research, forethought or investigation.

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The Hill has contacted the district attorney’s and Roman’s attorney for comments.

The Trump co defendant claims that Willis, Wade and their families have traveled together to “traditional vacation locations” such as the Caribbean or Napa Valley. They were also seen together in the Atlanta area.

In the filing, “sources close both to the Special Prosecutor and the District Attorney” claim that a personal relationship existed between the two parties that began even before the case of election interference was filed. These claims have not been independently verified by The Hill.

Wade was a private practitioner, but he was hired by the District Attorney’s Office to assist in prosecuting the case of election interference that resulted in charges being brought against Trump and other 18 people in an indictment in August last year.

County records reveal that Wade received nearly $654,00 in legal fees between 2022 and 2023 for his work on the investigation. According to records, the district attorney’s offices authorizes these funds.

Roman’s lawyer argued that the set-up amounted an irreparable conflicts of interest. He sought to dismiss the charges, and prevent Willis, Wade, and the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office from prosecuting the case.

The motion says that Wade has personally and financial benefited from Willis’s personal relationship, as he received lucrative amounts through his contracts with Willis. He will continue to have a financial and personal incentive to pursue this case, and so has a personal stake or interest in the prosecution of Mr. Roman. He is motivated to continue prosecuting Mr. Roman as long as he can because he’ll make money.

Roman, a defendant who is relatively anonymous in this case, faces 7 charges. He is accused of helping to coordinate a December 2020 meeting at which a group of pro-Trump voters signed Electoral College papers. He pleaded guilty.

Merchant wrote that “it is not our intention to find a way to prosecute the prosecutor. But it must be brought into the Court’s attention that the actions of both the lead district attorneys are arguably crimes under federal laws,” in his filing.

Kenneth Chesebro – an attorney aligned with Trump – had also sought to dismiss the charges against him by claiming that Wade hadn’t filed his oath-of-office paperwork in time. However, a judge rejected the motion.