ATLANTA — A special prosecutor who was romantically involved with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis officially stepped down Friday from the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump after a judge ordered him to leave or Willis couldn’t continue pursuing the charges.
Lawyer Nathan Wade’s departure allows Willis to stay on the largest of four criminal cases against the presumed Republican candidate in the 2024 presidential election.
The lasting impact on how the public views the prosecution is uncertain, especially given Trump’s continuous attacks on the duo who promised to hold Trump accountable but found themselves under scrutiny.
Wade submitted his resignation in a letter to Willis, stating he was doing so “for the sake of democracy, in service to the American public, and to expedite this case.”
“I am confident that the case, and the team, will be well taken care of moving forward and justice will be served,” Wade wrote.
Willis praised Wade’s “professionalism and integrity” in a letter accepting his resignation, effective immediately. She mentioned that he had faced threats against himself and his family, as well as unwarranted attacks on his reputation as a lawyer in the media and in court.
“I will always remember — and will remind everyone — that you were courageous enough to step forward and take on the investigation and prosecution of the allegations that the defendants in this case engaged in a conspiracy to overturn Georgia’s 2020 Presidential Election,” Willis wrote.
Trump’s team had a different perspective.
In a social media post, Trump stated that the “Fani Willis lover” had “resigned in disgrace,” and reiterated his claim that the case is an attempt to damage his campaign to regain the White House in November. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty.
A lawyer for the former president said they respected the court’s decision but believed the judge “did not adequately acknowledge the prosecutorial wrongdoing of Willis and Wade.”
“We will utilize all available legal options as we continue to fight to end this case, which never should have been brought in the first place,” Trump attorney Steve Sadow said.
Defense attorneys may seek to appeal the ruling, but they would require the judge’s permission to do so.
In a separate criminal case against Trump in New York, a judge agreed Friday to postpone the trial related to hush-money payments during Trump’s 2016 campaign until at least mid-April. The trial was scheduled to start later this month, but Trump’s lawyers said they needed more time to examine evidence they recently obtained from a previous federal investigation into the matter.
In Georgia, Wade’s resignation came hours after Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee stated he had to be removed or Willis must step aside from the case. McAfee did not determine that Willis’ relationship with Wade constituted a conflict of interest but acknowledged that the accusations created an “appearance of impropriety” that affected the prosecution team.
The judge wrote that as the case progresses, people might think that the financial deals are still happening and benefiting the District Attorney, or that the romantic relationship has started again.
In other words, someone from outside could think that the District Attorney is not making decisions completely independently and free from any compromising influences. As long as Wade stays involved, this unnecessary perception will continue.
