ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - You might have seen Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ name in headlines recently.

MOST RECENT COVERAGE: Fulton DA Fani Willis, special prosecutor it to ‘personal relationship’

Willis was already in the spotlight after her office filed a massive indictment against former President Donald Trump and 18 allies last year, accusing them of scheming to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. But the case has taken a massive twist after new allegations were filed in court.

Here’s everything you need to know about the recent drama surrounding Willis.

What was Fani Willis accused of doing?

Willis was accused of having a romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, whom she hired as a special prosecutor in the case against Trump.

The allegation comes from Michael Roman and his attorney. Roman, one of Trump’s former campaign officials, is one of the defendants alongside Trump in the Fulton County racketeering case.

In a motion dated Jan. 8, Roman claimed the two “have been engaged in an improper, clandestine personal relationship during the pendency of this case, which has resulted in the special prosecutor, and, in turn, the district attorney, profiting significantly from this prosecution at the expense of the taxpayers.”

RELATED: Read the allegations of misconduct against Fulton County DA Fani Willis

In particular, Roman claimed in his motion that the two took lavish vacations together using Wade’s salary from the district attorney’s office. He also said Willis didn’t even have the legal authority to appoint Wade as a special prosecutor, making the investigation invalid.

The motion called to dismiss the indictment and disqualify Willis, Wade and the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office from prosecuting the case.

Willis was subpoenaed to testify in Wade’s divorce proceedings, according to The Wall Street Journal. The summons was reportedly served just hours before Roman filed his bombshell motion.

Why do the allegations matter?

The allegations suggest Wade and Willis misused taxpayer money and crossed ethical boundaries — but they also have wider implications for the entire case.

If other defendants were to adopt or Wade’s motion, whatever the judge decides about the case’s fate would apply to all of them.

After hesitating at first, Trump’s Georgia attorney, Steven Sadow, has jumped in on the motion.

RELATED: Trump s motion to dismiss Fulton DA Fani Willis, Nathan Wade from election interference case

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, who is overseeing the case against Trump and his allies, set a hearing addressing the allegations on Feb. 15.

Legal experts tell Atlanta News First it’s unlikely the case will be dropped, but it could possibly be moved out of Fulton County to another jurisdiction.

What has Willis said about the situation?

On Feb. 15, Willis and Wade both testified at a disqualification hearing that could potentially remove them from the case.

Both testified to the extent of their relationship.

“You’re trying to put me on trial. I’m not on trial. These people are on trial for trying to steal an election,” Willis said.

RELATED: Fulton DA Fani Willis testifies at her disqualification hearing

On Feb. 2, Willis responded to the allegations in a 176-page court filing. The document confirms the two were in a “personal relationship,” but Willis argues it is not grounds for disqualification and that they never misused funds.

Willis also said she and Wade were not in a relationship when Willis hired him as a special prosecutor in the case against Trump in 2021.

On Jan. 18, Willis filed a motion to toss her subpoena in Wade’s divorce case. The motion argued that Wade’s estranged wife, Joycelyn Wade, was conspiring with “interested parties” like Roman and using the subpoena to interfere with Willis’ investigation against Trump.

In particular, Willis claimed the Wades’ marriage was irretrievably broken as far back as 2017, before Willis and Nathan Wade even met. In that case, Willis’ testimony would be irrelevant and the subpoena is only meant to “annoy, embarrass, and oppress,” Willis argued.

What does Donald Trump think?

On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump celebrated Willis’ response, calling the Fulton County case against him a “scam.”

“By going after the most high level person, and the Republican Nominee, she was able to get her “lover” much more money, almost a Million Dollars, than she would be able to get for the prosecution of any other person or individual,” he wrote.

Wade has been paid more than $650,000 by the district attorney’s office for his work on the Trump case, according to county records.

Sadow, Trump’s Georgia attorney, claimed Willis failed to “provide full transparency” in her response and accused her of inappropriately speaking about the case in public. He cited a speech she made at Big Bethel AME shortly after the allegations surfaced.

“Apparently, the DA believes she can make public out-of-court statements about race, this case, and the defendants whenever she wants, and the Court is powerless to punish her by disqualification,” he said. “... Our requested remedy remains clear: dismiss the case and disqualify the DA, together with her team and office, from any related matters.”

RELATED: Donald Trump: Fulton County DA Fani Willis ‘has been exposed’

Who is investigating the situation?

Several parties have filed inquiries about the allegations. Here’s a timeline:

• On Jan. 10, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene sent a letter asking the governor and general attorney to investigate Willis. Records show she filed an official complaint to the State Ethics Commission on Jan. 24.
• On Jan. 12, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee chairman sent a letter to Wade requesting his cooperation “with our oversight.” In the letter, the committee asks for several documents, including communications, invoices and contracts.
• On Jan. 19, Fulton County Commissioner Bob Ellis sent a letter to Willis over the allegations. Ellis cited newly released bank statements showing Wade and Willis bought tickets for trips to Miami and San Francisco. Ellis and Willis have long been at odds over the notorious Fulton County Jail, which has gained national attention over its conditions and number of inmate deaths.

• On Jan. 22, Sen. Greg Dolezal introduced legislation to establish a committee with subpoena power to investigate Willis. The Georgia Senate voted in favor of the four days later.
• Also on Jan. 22, a Cobb County Superior Court judge ordered the divorce proceedings for Nathan Wade and his estranged wife, Joycelyn Wade, to be unsealed.
• On Jan. 26, Rep. Charlice Byrd introduced legislation calling for Willis’ impeachment.
• On Jan. 31, Willis and Wade were subpoenaed to testify in the Feb. 15 hearing set to determine if they stay on the Trump case.
• On Feb. 2, Willis was subpoenaed by the U.S. House Judiciary Committee. The order is related to allegations that Fani fired a whistleblower who tried to stop a top campaign aide from misusing federal funds.
• On Feb. 8, Greene announced she filed a second ethics complaint against Willis.
• In February, Willis asked the court to reject subpoenas for her, Wade and several staff during the Feb. 15 hearing.

WATCH >>> Fulton County DA Fani Willis responds to improper affair allegations | ANF+ Attorney Analysis

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