Trump Prosecutor Nathan Wade Resigns From Georgia Case
Willis accepted Wade’s resignation in a letter Friday, praising his work on the case, calling Wade “brave” and an “outstanding advocate.”
Wade’s resignation comes after Judge Scott McAfee, in a highly anticipated ruling, determined Willis would not be disqualified from the case, but said either she or Wade needed to step down, citing the “appearance of impropriety.”
Trump and his co-defendants had asked McAfee to disqualify Willis from the case, accusing her of a conflict of interest and financially benefitting by hiring Wade after the two began their romantic relationship, allegations the pair has denied.
McAfee determined the defendants failed to prove there was “an actual conflict of interest,” but said the case would be put on hold until one or both of them stepped down, chastising Willis for a “tremendous lapse in judgment” and “making bad choices—even repeatedly.”
KEY BACKGROUND
McAfee’s decision follows weeks of high-profile testimony in which Trump’s lawyers questioned Willis, Wade and a series of witnesses about their relationship. Both denied that their romance began before Wade was hired and rejected Trump’s and his co-defendants’ claims that Willis financially benefitted from hiring Wade for the role, alleging he used his salary to pay for vacations for the two. Witnesses, and cellphone records unearthed by an investigator hired by the defendants, appeared to contradict claims that the relationship began after Wade’s hiring. Willis and Wade acknowledged the relationship and said they met in 2019, but claimed they only began seeing each other romantically after he was hired in 2021.
CHIEF CRITIC
Trump celebrated the decision on his social media account, Truth Social, writing Wade “resigned in disgrace,” and that the outcome “is the equivalent of Deranged (Justice Department special prosecutor) Jack Smith getting ‘canned,’” calling it “BIG STUFF.”
TANGENT
Willis’ office charged Trump and 18 co-defendants with racketeering, among other felonies, in August for their alleged attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. McAfee on Wednesday threw out six of the counts—three against Trump and three against several of his co-defendants—all of which were related to their alleged efforts to pressure state officials to alter the results in Trump’s favor. McAfee determined that prosecutors failed to prove “the underlying felony solicited” by Trump and his co-defendants from the state officials.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
The GOP-led House Judiciary Committee is also investigating Willis’ conduct in the case. The probe initially centered around whether Willis’ office coordinated with the federal government—alluding to Trump’s claims that the prosecution was politically motivated and designed to help President Joe Biden’s re-election chances—and it was expanded to include allegations that Willis’ office misused federal grant money. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who chairs the committee, threatened on Thursday to hold Willis in contempt of court if she does not comply with a subpoena for records related to the federal grant by March 28.
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