Repeated assertions from Fani Willis and Nathan Wade that their romantic relationship began in early 2022 — after she hired him to work on the election case — are a “fraud on this court,” defense attorney Craig Gillen said.

Gillen, who represents defendant David Shafer, said “it’s been proven beyond any doubt that the relationship occurred before Nov. 1, 2021, and the benefits were there.”

“What we have here is a fraud on this court which has been shown, I think, overwhelmingly by the evidence,” he said.

Gillen said Willis and Wade offered “no disclosure whatsoever” about their relationship until it was raised by defense counsel.

“Prosecutors don’t act like this,” he said. “Lawyers don’t act like this.”

They need to go,” he concluded.

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(From left) State Election Board member Rick Jeffares, executive director James Mills, vice chair Janice Johnston and member Janelle King listen during an election board meeting at the Capitol in Atlanta on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. The board voted down a proposal to eliminate Georgia’s touchscreen voting system and switch to hand-marked paper ballots. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

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