Trump Co-Defendant's Lawyer Hits Roadblock in Fani Willis Hearing

[ancianita]

Source: Newsweek

Ashleigh Merchant, the lawyer for Donald Trump co-defendant Michael Roman, hit a roadblock Tuesday in her efforts to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the sweeping election interference case in Georgia.

During a hearing on misconduct allegations against Willis, Judge Scott McAfee blocked a string of questions Merchant had for Terrence Bradley, the former law partner and divorce attorney of special prosecutor Nathan Wade, about when he first learned of the romantic relationship between Willis and Wade.

McAfee agreed with the district attorney's office when it objected to Merchant's questioning, saying that it was based on "gossip, innuendo, assumption and privileged information" and that she had not established any basis for her interrogation.

Merchant argued that she was allowed to impeach Bradley with any "inconsistent fact," to which the judge countered, "Why would it be a relevant impeachment if he has no personal knowledge of this?"

Bradley, who has been described by the defense as a key witness, is taking the stand again after he repeatedly declined to answer many of the questions Merchant had two weeks ago, citing attorney-client privilege

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/trump-co-defendants-lawyer-hits-roadblock-fani-willis-hearing-1874005

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Mike Roman is about a sideshow, and hopefully the young Judge McAfee doesn't go for it.

[underpants]

1. Sounds better than what I saw but the judges question is telling

The one about impeachment. He seemed to overrule objections a lot but I like how he’s running this. I think this sideshow was him trying to avoid politics. Sadly it might work.

[ancianita]

2. I hear you. I couldn't watch it as much as read news about it.

No fan of Newsweek but they caught the judge's responses that I'd missed.

It will likely do the Roman team in if they get political in closing arguments on Friday.

[Maraya1969]

3. I'll tell you what pisses me off about this trial. None of tfg's trials have been televised and THIS ONE IS

When they get the the original trial that judge better allow cameras in the court room.

[ancianita]

4. I hear ya. My understanding is

that GA has a transparency law about courts that requires cameras. I think I ran across that info back when the issue of cameras in federal courts came up.

That's what Trump says he wants, but not in a criminal trial. He knows it will be ugly for him.

imo, Roman and Trump teams are attempting to set up grounds for a mistrial.

[bluestarone]

5. So is hearing over?

Anymore testimony scheduled?

[ancianita]

6. Not quite. I hear that one of Roman's team found new text evidence that will be reviewed by McAfee on Friday,

ahead of closing arguments. It's a hearing, so such things are allowed. The hearing continues Friday.

[bluestarone]

7. They really have a way of stretching things out.

[ancianita]

8. Yes, moreso by lawyers than judges, imo.

There's always the deeply held jurisprudence practice of "due process" for defendants, even when judges see it being used as a delay strategy. Which is why the very rich defendants get a lot more due process than the "sufficient" due process the average defendant usually gets.

[Novara]

9. I listened to most of this whole fiasco

They haven't proved a thing that is damning.

I can only hope that the only reason McAfee even entertained this damn circus is to guard against reversal on appeal.

Because two lawyers on the same side doesn't make a conflict of interest. And they didn't prove that anyone was lying about anything. They didn't prove that anyone benefited by the relationship. The lawyers tried like hell for "gotcha" moments and came up empty handed. All along they were snarky and condescending, and just plain assholes.

[cilla4progress]

10. Watching this string of white attorneys attack

two Black people for a romantic relationship has shades of the old south.

To say the least.

[Novara]

11. And black witnesses too.

They were so condescending I wanted to slap them unconscious.

[Cha]

14. I can imagine how the Black Community

who watched this is processing That!

[ancianita]

12. Thank you.

For all the reasons here.
I just can't stand the optics and all that underlying hate I saw from living in the South in the 50's through early 70's. That intergenerational sickness is still there, and I know my pain is nothing at all compared to what they're enduring... Still...

[ificandream]

15. But I'll bet no matter which way this turns out, the defense or Trump won't let it go.

They never do with the worthless shit they bring up.

[Cha]

13. I'll say..

Link to tweet

When I read the thread on the Live feed of the courtroom drama ..there was a lot of doom and gloom.

And then other threads sprung up and it didn't seem so Bad for Fani!

TY!

[ancianita]

16. This is the kind of drama and angst that grinds at real justice.and good prosecutors. We're looking at

Roy Cohn style proceedings. I just hope McAfee swiftly rules in Willis' favor despite all this "whatever doesn't kill you ..." BS. I can't wait until Friday's over, and I KNOW Willis can't wait.

I hope Fani's getting flowers and well wishing cards from folks in GA. She's more than earned high respect.

[Cha]

17. Ah yes, I would imagine there would.

be so much respect for DA Fani Willis and her Team after this Kangeroo Court travesty by TSF's hench lawyers.

I also think it will Motivate Voters to GOTV for Pres Biden on GE Day!

[Maraya1969]

20. When I heard Laura Ingraham mispronounce Fauni as Fanny I was livid. Now I just read they took

some sort of pledge to do that. What a bunch of toddlers who need their diapers changed.

"On his show, Charlie Kirk pledged to continue mispronouncing Fulton County DA Fani Willis' name as "Fanny." DA Fani Willis' name is pronounced FAH-nee.

Charlie Kirk: "...impressive piece of work by Fa-nee Willis. Sorry, it' FAH-nee Willis. FAH-nee. Because she doesn't want us to call her FANNY Willis, apparently. Is she going to indict us because we mispronounce her name?"

"Later on in the show, Charlie Kirk revealed to a guest that he will continue to mispronouce Fani Willis' name:"


https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/celebrity/like-immature-children-republicans-pledge-to-intentionally-mispronounce-fani-willis-name-as-fanny/ar-AA1fshYe

[Novara]

18. Sadow noted Willis' and Wade's telephone numbers and left them unredacted in a court filing

And they were "leaked." Willis and Wade had to change their phone numbers and are getting MORE death threats.

I am positive that wasn't an oversight on Sadow's part. He was the worst, most condescending, most assholish lawyer doing the questioning today.

[ancianita]

19. THAT guy. Thanks, I couldn't recall his name. What a vile human. I'm sure McAfee is going to hear about this

when Sadow does his Friday presentation of "new texts" he's found. Hope there's a forensics expert there to verify his "find."

The fact that he's so thorough about "catching" her but not about his own "oversight" are flip sides of the same historical coin.

Friday might get ugly.

[Novara]

21. Yes, this:

The fact that he's so thorough about "catching" her but not about his own "oversight" are flip sides of the same historical coin.

Asshole.