(NewsNation) — Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis took the witness stand Thursday to testify about her romantic relationship with a special prosecutor she hired to lead the 2020 election interference case against Donald Trump.
Robert James, former Dekalb County, Georgia, district attorney and Chandelle Summer, former assistant public defender in Fulton County, Georgia, have been closely monitoring the proceedings and joined “On Balance With Leland Vittert” to discuss the latest developments in the case.
Willis’ defense hinges on her assertion that there were no conflicts of interest in her actions despite accusations of favoritism and unethical conduct.
Willis contends that any payments made to Nathan Wade, a special prosecutor appointed by Willis who also happened to be her boyfriend, including reimbursement for trips, were done in cash, with no written proof available.
James highlighted the legal standard that testimony from a single witness can establish a fact, saying, “The question here is whether or not there’s anything to contradict what the DA has said.”
James emphasized the importance of admissible evidence, suggesting that without contradictory evidence, Willis’ testimony stands unchallenged.
“There’s nothing that I heard today to rebut the testimony that she put forward,” he said. “And so when the judge rules, the only evidence that he has to make a decision on is the testimony of DA Willis.”
Summer raised concerns about the credibility of Willis’ explanation as presented in court.
“It was quite dramatic,” Summer said. “She was defiant. I thought that the explanation about the cash reimbursements was fishy and absolutely did not pass the smell test.”
Summer said that in Fulton County, one has to file disclosures of gifts or favors given to you by anyone who does business with the county.
“So she didn’t file any disclosure,” Summer said. “She said she had no gifts or favors in the whole year. So I think the totality of the circumstances indicates that she lied under oath, and I think that was more damaging than the allegations that she had an affair.”
