Former Georgia special prosecutor Nathan Wade acknowledges the damaging impact of his romantic involvement with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis on the high-profile election interference case against former President Trump, expressing regret over the distraction it caused.
Nathan Wade, the former special prosecutor tasked with overseeing the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump, has opened up about his "workplace romance" with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, admitting that it became a focal point of the case and overshadowed its importance.
In an exclusive interview with ABC News, Wade acknowledged the controversy surrounding his relationship with Willis, which has drawn public scrutiny and even prompted concerns from fellow progressives. He stated that while workplace romances are common, the attention it received in this instance was a distraction from the case's significance.
"I regret that that private matter became the focal point of this very important prosecution," Wade said. "This is a very important case."
Wade's comments follow a ruling by Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee, who ordered either Willis or Wade to step aside from the case due to the perceived impropriety of their relationship. Wade resigned from his position, while Willis remained on the case.
Wade maintained that their relationship did not compromise the integrity of the investigation into Trump's alleged interference in the 2020 election. He claimed that he did not believe the news of their relationship had any negative impact on the case's progress.
"I don't think it did any damage to the case," Wade said. "I'm not the only prosecutor who has had a relationship with a witness or a colleague. It happened to be something that was in the news, and it happened to be something that people were interested in."
Wade and Willis claim that their relationship began in 2022, well after Willis hired Wade in 2021. They ended their romantic involvement in the summer of 2023 but remained friends, according to Wade.
Willis has defended her conduct, denying any wrongdoing and expressing confidence in her ability to continue pursuing the case against Trump.
"I don’t feel like my reputation needs to be reclaimed," Willis told CNN. "I guess my greatest crime is I had a relationship with a man. That’s not something I find embarrassing in any way. And I know that I have not done anything that’s illegal."
Despite Willis's assertions, the controversy surrounding her relationship with Wade has continued to cast a shadow over the Trump election interference case. Critics have questioned whether the case can proceed fairly and objectively with Willis remaining involved, given the potential for bias and conflicts of interest.
As the legal proceedings continue, it remains to be seen how the fallout from Wade and Willis's relationship will impact the outcome of the investigation into Trump's actions during the 2020 election.
