Ashleigh Merchant, defense attorney, argues for the prosecutors to be disqualified
Ashleigh Merchant is an attorney representing Michael Roman, a former campaign official for former President Donald J. Trump and a co-defendant facing criminal charges in the Georgia election interference case.
Mrs. Merchant, who was recently elected president of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Attorneyspossess a private practice with her husband. She used to be one public defender in Fulton County for several years.
In early January, Ms. Merchant filed court papers accusing Fulton County District Attorney Fani T. Willis of engaging in a “clandestine” relationship with Nathan J. Wade, the special prosecutor she hired in 2021 to helping with the case against Mr. Trump and his allies.
Ms. Merchant has argued that the relationship between Mr. Wade and Ms. Willis should disqualify them, as well as Ms. Willis' entire office, from prosecuting the case, citing a conflict of interest. She alleged Ms Willis took financial advantage of the accuser and accused her of going on holiday with Mr Wade with money he earned working for her.
Ms Willis admitted in February that she had a relationship with Mr Wade, but argued that was not a reason to disqualify her or her office from the case. She and Mr. Wade have also said they share costs for private travel.
In the court papers, Ms Merchant said Mr Wade was not qualified for the role. But in 2016, she praised Mr Wade's “robust legal background” on Facebook as she supported him in one of his failed attempts to be elected as a Supreme Court judge. Another post showed a photo of her posing in a Wade campaign T-shirt.
Asked about the posts, Ms. Merchant recently said that Mr. Wade was “the most qualified candidate in that race.”
Before Thursday's hearing, Ms. Merchant sent subpoenas demanding that Mr. Wade, Ms. Willis and several witnesses testify about the plaintiffs' relationship. It is unclear whether the judge will allow her to put them on the stand.
Richard Fausset And Danny Hakim reporting contributed.