A new batch of text messages in the Fani Willis saga has exposed the legal peril faced by both her and Nathan Wade in the face of evidence that they perhaps lied under oath and irreparably tainted their case against former President Donald Trump.
Megyn Kelly reports that a lawyer for the defense team has provided a slew of messages between herself and Terrence Bradley, a former friend of Wade who took the stand last week during an uncomfortable inquiry into his knowledge of when the secret affair between Willis and Wade actually began.
The messages, traded between 2023 and early 2024, confirmed Bradley’s knowledge that an affair began prior to Wade being hired as a prosecutor in November of 2021. However, Bradley claimed on the stand to have forgotten all knowledge he previously admitted to Ashley Merchant, the attorney for Trump co-defendant Michael Roman.
MERCHANT: Any idea who I could get an affidavit from on the affair?
BRADLEY: No…no one would freely burn that bridge
MERCHANT: Ok
MERCHANT: If Chris was asked under oath would he know?
BRADLEY: No
MERCHANT: Wow
MERCHANT: I figured he would
MERCHANT I didn’t expect them to be so careful [laughing face emoji]
BRADLEY: He knows but he won’t admit it
– September 18, 2023, 3:11pm to 5:37pmThe “Chris” referenced likely refers to Chris Campbell, a former law partner of Wade’s.
Bradley’s admission of an earlier affair is the second testimony from associates to Willis and Wade contradicting sworn testimony they gave alleging their sexual relationship did not begin until after Wade was hired. A former friend of Willis previously testified in open court that their liaisons stretched back as far as 2019, and cellular phone data shows Wade staying overnight at Willis’ condo during the period when their relationship was being denied.
By January 2024, Bradley was sharing knowledge about multiple vacations taken by the couple, even saying that Wade helped Willis move homes at some point.
MERCHANT: I assume you knew about the trips…. wowowoow
MERCHANT: Insane
MERCHANT: I’m shocked
MERCHANT: Well not really but somewhat
BRADLEY: No I didnt
BRADLEY: When did it happen
MERCHANT: Last trip was this summer
MERCHANT: May or June
BRADLEY: No I didnt know…I was gone by then
BRADLEY: Doesn’t surprise me…they took many trips to Florida
BRADLEY: Texas
MERCHANT: And Napa
BRADLEY: California
BRADLEY: When she moved her daughter there
MERCHANT: I can’t believe they were sooooo carefree
…
MERCHANT: Dang
MERCHANT: They had a full on relationship. Insane
MERCHANT: Just insane
BRADLEY: He went to help her move her
MERCHANT: Why she would hire him is insane
BRADLEY: Yes
MERCHANT: Like just date / don’t hire him.
– January 5, 2024, 9:39am to 9:49amAsked where and when the couple met, Bradley admitted they interacted in court and private life for years before working together on the Trump case.
MERCHANT: Do you think it started before she hired him?
BRADLEY: Absolutely
BRADLEY: It started when she left the DA’s office and was judge in South Fulton
[Merchant ‘liked’ the message]
BRADLEY: They met at the Municipal court clerk conference.
MERCHANT: That’s what I figured / When he was married
– January 5, 2024, 9:52am to 9:53amAsked two hours later to confirm the time and location, Bradley did so.
MERCHANT: Is this accurate? / Upon information and belief, Willis and Wade met while both were serving as Magistrate Judges and began a romantic relationship at that time.
BRADLEY: No Municipal court
MERCHANT: Thank you
BRADLEY: But you can’t put where they met not many people know that
BRADLEY: I might be one of only not even chris campbell
– January 5, 2024, 11:56am to 12:47pmMerchant went to lengths to keep Bradley from appearing as the source of information in her initial filings, saying much of her information also came from the lawyer for Wade’s ex-wife.
MERCHANT: I’m almost done with my motion / I’m not filing u til Monday / Go home and sleep:-)
MERCHANT: I can send you a draft / Can’t wait to hear about your trip
BRADLEY: Ok…happy hunting lol
– January 5, 2024, 3:06pm to 3:08pmAs Kelly notes, Bradley practically freely shares his thoughts on Willis and Wade, making his lack of knowledge during testimony under oath all the more damning for him as well.
BRADLEY: I really appreciate you keeping me out but I think you need to add me in the footnote 15 because I had a contract as well that way it doesn’t seem like I was involved
MERCHANT: Ok
BRADLEY: It’s ok…add me to footnote 15 and how much I made
MERCHANT: I took you out / I can add that back!
MERCHANT: Good point
BRADLEY: Yes add it back
MERCHANT: Anything else ? Anything that isn’t accurate?”
BRADLEY: Looks good
– January 6, 2024, 12:02pm to 12:06pmAsked how he thought the legal power couple would react to Merchant’s allegations, Bradley thought hubris would get the better of them.
MERCHANT: How will they react to this? / Attack me? Give the stupid no fear or favor speech?
…
BRADLEY: No they will deny it
MERCHANT: No way!
BRADLEY: They won’t attack you
…
MERCHANT: I am shocked she paid him so much / How did they think they wouldn’t get caught!!!
MERCHANT: So careless / Why not just NOT pay nathan? / Lord.
BRADLEY: Arrogance
– January 6, 2024, 12:11pm to 12:43pmKelly goes on to speculate why Bradley would sing like a canary and later clam up, proffering that he feared jeopardy for divulging privileged information or feared the wrath of a district attorney who, as Kelly puts it, “likes to bring charges with no foundation legally.”
The drama has badly damaged Willis’ ability to manage her case against Trump and put her in the crosshairs of the Georgia Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. Judge Scott McAfee will decide whether she should be disqualified from the case.