Nathan Wade, the lead prosecutor in the Georgia election subversion case against former President Donald Trump, has stepped down from his role in the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office.
Wade and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis have faced a barrage of criticism in their prosecution of the former president, as it was revealed that they had a romantic relationship while investigating Trump’s activities during the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. Despite the controversy, both prosecutors maintain that their personal connection did not compromise the integrity of Trump’s case.
In a letter signed on Friday, Willis announced that she had received a resignation letter from Wade. The letter stated that Wade’s resignation would be “effective immediately.” Willis expressed her gratitude towards the prosecutor for the professionalism and dignity he displayed during the past 865 days. Wade had been appointed to handle Trump’s case in November 2021.
The Context:
Judge Scott McAfee gave Willis permission to continue working on the election subversion case on Friday. This decision came after hearings where one of Trump’s co-defendants claimed that Willis and Wade’s relationship created a conflict of interest in the investigation. In January, attorneys for the defendant, Mike Roman, filed a document stating that Willis had been using taxpayers’ money to fund vacations taken by both Willis and Wade, and had been personally benefiting from the prosecution.
In the end, McAfee decided that Willis could continue working on the case, but Wade had to step down from his position. The judge, while delivering his decision on Friday, also expressed his disapproval of the prosecutors’ relationship, referring to it as a “significant lapse in judgment.”
What We Know:
In his resignation letter to Willis, Wade acknowledged McAfee’s ruling and stated that he was voluntarily resigning “in the interest of democracy, in dedication to the American public, and to expedite the progress of this case.”
“I am immensely proud of the work our team has achieved in investigating, indicting, and litigating this case,” Wade expressed. “It has been the honor of a lifetime to be a part of the endeavor to seek justice for the people of Georgia and the United States, and to contribute to the preservation of the rule of law and democracy.”
In her response to Wade, Willis acknowledged his resignation and expressed gratitude for his courage in leading the investigation and prosecution related to the alleged conspiracy to overturn Georgia’s 2020 Presidential Election. She assured him that his efforts would be remembered and shared with others.
In her message, she expressed understanding for the concerns of others who were being considered for the role. She acknowledged that accepting the role could potentially pose risks to the safety of oneself and their loved ones. However, she commended the recipient for having the bravery to step up and accept the responsibility, even though they hadn’t actively pursued it.
Views:
In his 23-page decision on Friday, Judge McAfee stated that Willis and Wade were criticized. However, he also mentioned that the defendants did not provide sufficient evidence to prove that the District Attorney had a genuine conflict of interest due to her personal relationship and frequent trips with her lead prosecutor.
According to a statement from Roman’s attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, McAfee’s ruling on Friday was seen as a “vindication” for the defense, even though their initial request to completely remove Willis from the case was not granted.
In a statement to CNN on Friday, she emphasized that the judge concurred with the defense’s argument that Willis’ actions were a result of her poor judgment and stressed the need for her to promptly address the conflict to safeguard the future of the case.
The defense attorney expressed their disagreement with the court’s suggestion for a remedy, considering it insufficient in light of the district attorney’s misconduct. However, they eagerly await the district attorney’s response to the court’s demands. The defense attorney reassured that they would persist in advocating for their client.
Steve Sadow, the lead defense counsel for Trump in the Fulton County case, expressed his disagreement with the Court’s decision. In a statement provided to Newsweek, he stated, “While we respect the Court’s decision, we believe that they failed to acknowledge the prosecutorial misconduct of Willis and Wade. This includes their financial benefits, dishonest testimony regarding the start of their personal relationship, and Willis’ extrajudicial MLK ‘church speech.’ In that speech, she played the race card and falsely accused the defendants and their counsel of racism. We will explore all available legal options as we continue to fight against a case that should never have been initiated.”
On Friday afternoon, the former president expressed his support for Wade’s resignation on Truth Social, his social media platform. He referred to the prosecutor as “‘special,’ in more ways than one” and reiterated his belief that Willis’ indictment against him was a deliberate attempt to interfere with the upcoming reelection campaign of President Joe Biden.
In a recent statement, the former president expressed his belief that it is only a matter of time before Deranged Jack Smith, the special counsel overseeing his two federal criminal prosecutions, is dismissed. He emphasized the significance of this development, stating that it would be a major event akin to Deranged Jack Smith being “canned.” The former president’s remark highlights his anticipation of a future outcome in which the special counsel is removed from his position.
Donald Trump, the leading contender for the upcoming Republican presidential nomination in November, finds himself entangled in three additional criminal trials while campaigning for re-election. One of these cases, spearheaded by Smith, focuses on Trump’s involvement in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. The accusations against Trump center around his alleged attempts to overturn his defeat to Biden in the 2020 election.
Willis’ office was contacted by Newsweek via email for additional comment.
What’s Next?
The deadline for both parties to appeal McAfee’s ruling is March 25. According to state law, either party must seek permission from McAfee to appeal the ruling, and the judge is required to respond within 10 days. The window to request an appeal will commence on Saturday.
If McAfee decides to review his ruling, the party seeking an appeal will be given an additional 10 days to request the Georgia Court of Appeals. The decision on whether to take the case will be made by the state’s appeals court within 45 days.
