Wade admitted he had some regrets.
Former Fulton County Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade, who was involved in the election interference case against former President Donald Trump, has since resigned from the case following a public disqualification battle over his relationship with District Attorney Fani Willis. He spoke for the first time on Sunday.
Mr. Wade, who resigned from the case last month after the judge’s ruling, acknowledged that he had some regrets about the relationship, but defended the integrity of future cases against Mr. Trump and others.
“Workplace romance is as American as apple pie,” Wade said in an exclusive sit-down interview with ABC News’ Lindsey Davis. “It happens to everyone. But it happened to both of us.”
“Do you have any regrets?” Davis asked.
Mr Wade responded: “I regret that his private life has become the focus of this very important prosecution.” “This is a very important case.”
“I hate that my personal life is starting to overshadow the real issues in the case,” he continued.
Details of the interview will be broadcast on ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Monday morning.
Wade’s resignation from the case comes after Judge Scott McAfee refused to disqualify Willis entirely, citing “manifestations of gross misconduct” stemming from a romantic relationship that occurred during the prosecution. It came hours after a court ruled that one side must recuse itself from the case. Case.
McAfee determined there was “insufficient evidence” that an actual conflict of interest existed.
Trump and the other defendants are seeking to appeal the judge’s ruling, which also seeks to remove Willis. The Georgia Court of Appeals has not yet decided whether to accept the appeal.
Willis and Wade testified that their relationship began in early 2022 and ended in the summer of 2023 after Wade was hired for the case in November 2021.
Asked by Davis if he intended to “pause” the relationship until the case is over because “democracy is at stake,” Wade acknowledged that he had done so, but said, “I feel very strongly.” “It’s strong.”
“At some point, if that bond is established and democracy is at stake, as I mentioned above, do you think it’s okay to suspend this until the litigation is over?” Davis asked. .
“Absolutely, absolutely. I admit that may have been the approach,” said Wade, who has since returned to private practice. When you get to the point where those feelings are so strong, you end up wanting to do things that aren’t actually in the world’s interest. ”
Four defendants in the case later agreed to a deal and pleaded guilty. Trump and the remaining 14 defendants have pleaded not guilty. No trial date has been set.
