(NewsNation) — The Georgia judge overseeing the election interference case against former President Donald Trump has scheduled a hearing to explore evidence regarding accusations that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis had an improper relationship with her lead prosecutor.
Judge Scott McAfee scheduled the hearing for Feb. 15 and directed Willis to respond to the allegations in writing by Feb. 2.
The accusations surfaced last week from one of Trump’s co-defendants, Mike Roman, a political operative who served as Trump’s director of election day operations on his 2020 reelection campaign. Roman accused Willis and Wade of engaging in an “improper” romantic relationship.
Roman said the purported relationship between Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade makes the indictment “fatally defective” and asked the judge to dismiss the charges against Trump. He also asked the judge to block the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office from further involvement in the case.
The filing provided no proof to support those claims but stated there was evidence in Wade’s divorce proceeding.
Critics argue the new allegations make the indictment null and void.
During a church service on Sunday, Willis appeared to defend her hiring of three prosecutors, also insinuating race had played a role in the criticisms.
“I’m a little confused. I appointed three special counselors. It’s my right to do. Paid them all the same hourly rate. They only attack one,” Willis said Sunday.
She added: “Only one percent of the district attorneys in this country are women of color. Why should I, your lowly servant, give dishonor.”
She did not directly reference Wade by his name, but defended the lawyer’s “impeccable credentials.”
Additionally, Willis defended herself against a subpoena request from Wade’s estranged wife, writing, “This is an attempt to harass and damage Willis’ professional reputation.”
She continued, stating Wade’s estranged wife “conspired with interested parties in the criminal election interference case to use the civil discovery process to annoy, embarrass and oppress the district attorney.”
A hearing in Wade’s ongoing divorce case, which Roman’s lawyer has said would yield evidence to support the claim, is scheduled for Jan. 31, two days before Willis is required to reply. The district attorney was subpoenaed in the divorce case the day the accusations went public, according to a court document obtained by The Hill.
The Hill contributed to this report.