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Winery host says he remembers D.A. Fani Willis paying cash for California Napa Valley wine tasting

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It’s not yet known whether District Attorney Fani Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade will be removed from Fulton County’s 2020 Georgia election interference case involving former President Donald Trump, but one issue that came up during Willis’ recent testimony — her predilection for using cash — rang true for one winery employee in California who says he met Willis and Wade last year.

Trump co-defendant Michael Roman, in a motion to disqualify Willis and her office from the case, alleges Willis improperly financially benefited from a romantic relationship with Wade, an accusation that sparked a fiery hearing late last week. Willis testified that while the pair went on several luxury trips, she always reimbursed Wade for her share in cash.  

The issue, critics say, is that Wade has been paid over $650,000 in the position that he was appointed to by Willis. Defense attorneys are trying to show Willis, who has acknowledged that a romantic relationship with Wade that began after she hired him in November 2021 and ended last summer, benefited from hiring Wade because he took her on several trips. The two have sought to refute the allegation by testifying that she paid her own way or reimbursed Wade. 

“I don’t need anything from a man — a man is not a plan. A man is a companion. And so there was tension always in our relationship, which is why I would give him his money back,” Willis testified. Defense attorneys expressed skepticism about the cash reimbursements and asked Wade if he had any proof that Willis repaid him in cash. He said he did not. 

But a man named Stan Brody says he’s seen evidence of Willis’ preference for paying in cash. He says he hosted Willis and Wade in early 2023 at the Napa Valley winery Acumen Wines. Brody recalled that the pair spent hours tasting wine, and when it came time to pay, Willis used cash. 

“It’s not the norm,” he said. “The bill was a little over $400 with the taxes and everything else on it. So she probably gave me $500.” 

While paying such a large bill in cash is not the norm at the winery, Brody said it wasn’t shocking, either. 

But he did say that “ninety-plus percent of the time it’s going to be a credit card, especially when you get up, you know, to several hundred dollars,” he said. 

During the hearing last week, Willis testified that she keeps cash on hand because of advice from her father to have at least six months’ worth at a time. “I always have cash at the house,” she said.

Brody said when he met the pair, he had no idea who Wade or Willis were, since the trip occurred before a Fulton County grand jury had indicted Trump and 18 associates. He recalled that during the private wine tasting session with the pair, he inquired about their work and said both told him they were attorneys working in criminal law. 

Once the indictment was issued in late August, Brody said he realized that it was indeed Willis who had come to the winery earlier that year. 

The push to remove Wade and Willis from the Fulton County case continues after two days of heated testimony late last week. The judge presiding over the matter has not yet scheduled a follow-up hearing to discuss more arguments from both sides in the matter. Once arguments conclude, a ruling is expected on whether or not Willis, Wade or both will be removed from the case. 



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Saturday Sessions: Marcus King performs “Save Me”

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Saturday Sessions: Marcus King performs “Save Me” – CBS News


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Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Marcus King started playing guitar at eight. As a teen, he formed his own band and started performing. Now, he’s releasing his third critically acclaimed solo album. The personal project focuses on mental health and was produced by the legendary Rick Rubin. From “Mood Swings,” here is Marcus King with “Save Me.”

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New documentary explores the private life of “Superman” icon Christopher Reeve

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Long before comic book characters dominated movie screens, actor Christopher Reeve made the world believes in superheroes with the 1978 classic “Superman.” 

Reeve died in 2004, nearly a decade after an accident re-shaped his life. “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” is using interviews with family and friends and never-before-seen home videos to explore his real-life heroism. 

Reeve started his career on the stage, studying at the prestigious Juilliard School and living with comedian Robin Williams. The pair had a friendship that was “more like a brotherhood,” said Reeve’s son Matthew. Reeve was in awe of Williams’ energy and versatility, Matthew Reeve said, but audiences quickly clued into Reeve’s own star power when he took on the role of the Man of Steel

Christopher Reeve in 'Superman'
Christopher Reeve as Superman in a scene from “Superman.” 

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To his children, though, he “was just dad,” Matthew Reeve said. The documentary explores how Matthew Reeve and his sister Alexandra Reeve Givens grew up watching their dad take the stage as Superman. “Super/Man” also reveals their heartbreak over their parents’ breakup and the joy they found when Reeve re-married. He tied the knot with Dana Reeve in 1992, and the pair welcomed another child, William Reeve, later that year.  

“Dana was sunshine,” Alexandra Reeve Givens recalled. “She just brought joy with her wherever she was and could find it even in the darkest moments.” 

Those dark moments came suddenly, when in 1995, a near-fatal horseback riding accident left Reeve paralyzed from the neck down. The documentary allows viewers to see, for the first time, what went on out of the public’s view. Reeve can be heard talking about how he “ruined (his) life and everybody else’s,” but in a touching moment, old friend Robin Williams is seen visiting him in the hospital.

“Robin showed him ‘Hey, you’re still you,'” Alexandra Reeve Givens said. “‘You still have this foundation of friendship and people around you, who adore you. And you’re going to find those fun moments in life again.'” 

That support from friends and family re-ignited Reeve’s legacy of activism. He made appearances at the Democratic National Convention and the 68th Academy Awards in 1996, about a year after the accident. Matthew Reeve said watching his father address his industry peers at the Oscars was “one of (his) most proud moments.”

“It was just a production for him to get out of bed every morning, let alone get across the country and go out in public for the first time,” Matthew Reeve said. “It was a big deal. It was a big deal to him, but it was also a big deal to the entire disability community. We stayed up in London till like three in the morning to watch that live. It’s a fond memory.”  

Actor Christopher Reeve (L), wife Dana (R) and com
Christopher Reeve (L), wife Dana (R) and comedian-actor Robin Williams (C) pose while at the Governor’s Ball after the 68th Annual Academy Awards 25 March in Los Angeles.

Vince Bucci/AFP via Getty Images


Reeve also went on to launch what would become the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, which is dedicated to advancing research into spiral cord injury and help individuals and families impacted by paralysis. It was his dad’s mission to find a cure, Matthew Reeve said, while his stepmother wanted to focus on improving the lives of paralyzed people and their families. The foundation and Reeve’s platform helped bring unprecedented attention and funding to spinal cord injury research. 

Reeve even kept acting and realized his lifelong dream of directing with the 1997 HBO movie “In the Gloaming.” Reeve died in 2004 from heart failure at 52.

“There is a huge amount of great actors and actresses out there, where their filmography might be amazing and what they achieve on a cultural level might be amazing, but have they actually achieved anything really as a human that moves the needle for our society?” said filmmaker Ian Bonhote, who made the documentary with Peter Ettedgui. “And Chris has done both things.” 

“Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” will open in theaters on Friday, Oct. 11. 



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How England’s most traditional meal is changing

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How England’s most traditional meal is changing – CBS News


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The British have enjoyed a Sunday roast for generations, but the tradition is changing. Chef Tom Kerridge, owner of the world’s only two Michelin-starred pub, explained the dish’s evolution – as well as what makes it so beloved.

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