DA in Trump GA case accused of affair with prosecutor, who paid for trips – National & International News – MON 22Jan2024

DA in Trump GA case accused of affair with prosecutor, who paid for trips.

Two US Navy seals lost in anti-Houthi operation identified.

NATIONAL NEWS

DA in Trump GA case accused of affair with prosecutor, who paid for trips

Last week, allegations emerged that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis was having an affair with Nathan Wade a special prosecutor hired by Willis’ office. Wade is a lead prosecutor in the case against former Pres. Donald Trump and 18 codefendants for conspiracy to overturn the results of Georgia’s 2020 election. Wade began working the case in 2021, and has since been paid over $600,000 for his work on the case. Around the time Wade began working the case, he also filed for divorce from his wife, Jocelyn Wade. Their divorce proceedings are still ongoing.

One of Trump’s co-defendants, Michael Roman, is asking that the charges against him be dropped at that Willis and the Fulton County DA’s office be barred from trying the case, alleging a conflict of interest. An evidentiary hearing on this is set to take place Feb. 15. 

Over the weekend, press sources obtained documents, filed by the soon-to-be-former Mrs. Wade in the divorce case, which appear to show that Mr. Wade paid for several vacations with Ms. Willis, including a Caribbean cruise and a trip to San Francisco.  The receipts produced by Mrs. Wade date to 2023.

During a recent speech at the Big Bethel AME congregation, Willis did not deny the allegations but did assert they were motivated by race. In a filing responding to a subpoena to testify in Wade’s divorce case, Willis accused Wade’s wife of having an extramarital affair. None of this can be a defense for what at the very least was unprofessional conduct. The alleged conduct by Willis and Wade, if proven, is sordid, squalid and above all, stupid. 

However, it remains unclear what if any effect this will have on the election interference case against Trump and his co-defendants. There could, at the very least, be a further delay in the case. At the moment, there’s no set trial date, but Willis offices requested a trial date of August 5, 2024. Attorneys for Trump want proceedings delayed to 2029.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Two US Navy seals lost in anti-Houthi operation identified

Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram, 27, and Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J. Chambers, 37.

Yesterday, US Central Command announced it was calling off an “exhaustive” 10-day search for two US Navy Seals who were lost at sea on Thursday, Jan. 11. The two sailors, now identified as Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J. Chambers, 37, and Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram, 27, are now presumed dead. The search for the two men will continue in a recovery mode.

Chambers and Ingram were part of a nighttime raid on a small boat in the Gulf of Aden, the body of water that lies outside the Bab al-Mandeb Strait which leads into the Red Sea. While attempting to board the vessel, one of the sailors slipped off a ladder and the second, following protocol, jumped into the sea after his comrade to attempt a rescue.

Capt. Blake L. Chaney, commander of Naval Special Warfare Group 1, offered his condolences to the families of Chambers and Ingrams. Chaney called the men “exceptional warriors, cherished teammates, and dear friends to many within the Naval Special Warfare community”. Chaney continued, saying ,”Chris and Gage selflessly served their country with unwavering professionalism and exceptional capabilities. This loss is devastating for NSW, our families, the special operations community, and across the nation”.

Houthis continue attacks despite air strikes

The raid in which Chambers and Ingram lost their lives was an attempt to intercept a dhow, a small wooden boat, suspected of smuggling Iranian-made arms to Yemen. Iran supports and supplies the Houthi militant group. The Houthis, or Ansar Allah, has imposed a blockade of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait since mid-November. Initially, the Houthis were only targeting ships owned by Israelis or ships doing business in Israeli ports. The blockade is a response to what the Houthis and many people consider an ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Houthi leadership has repeatedly said that when Israel’s attacks on Gaza end, they will lift the blockade.

Instead of pressuring Israel to halt its assault on Gaza, the US, UK and other countries mounted “Operation Prosperity Guardian” in mid-December in an attempt to force the Houthis to end the blockade. Despite numerous confrontations at sea and now 6 rounds of US air strikes in Yemen, the Houthis have continued with the blockade. 

As a result of the air strikes, the Houthis are now also targeting US commercial shipping. Last week, the Houthis launched an attack on a US-owned US Genco Picardy. The attack started a fire on board the ship, which had to be rescued by an Indian naval ship.

Since Prosperity Guardian began and the Red Sea became an all-out war zone, the cost of shipping a 40-ft container has nearly doubled. This is because ships avoiding the Red Sea must go around the southern tip of Africa, adding about 2 weeks to the journey. Insurance rates for ships that wish to transit through the Red Sea have increased nearly 700-fold. All of these added costs will contribute to inflation. With oil companies like Shell now avoiding the Red Sea altogether, gas prices are sure to rise as well. 

Last week, a reporter asked President Biden whether the US air strikes against the Houthis were working. Biden answered, “When you say working, are they stopping the Houthis? No. Are they going to continue? Yes.”

OPINION: Will Biden send US troops to die to cover Israel’s crimes in Gaza?