Fani Willis’ lover, Nathan Wade, resigned from the Trump lawfare RICO case following Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee’s ruling on Friday, allowing District Attorney Fani Willis to proceed with her RICO case against Trump and his associates.
In a detailed 23-page decision, Judge McAfee instructed Fani Willis to address any “appearance of impropriety” before moving ahead with the case. He ruled that Fani Willis can remain on the case against President Trump on the condition that her lover, special prosecutor Nathan Wade, steps down from the case.
Subsequently, on Friday afternoon, Nathan Wade resigned from his role in the RICO case. In a letter obtained by WSB-TV, Wade stated, “Although the court found that ‘the defendants failed to meet their burden of proving that the District Attorney acquired an actual conflict of interest,’ I am offering my resignation in the interest of democracy, in dedication to the American public, and move this case forward as quickly as possible.”
In response, Fani Willis commended Wade’s “bravery” in spearheading the investigation. “I will always remember — and will remind everyone — that you were brave 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 in her acceptance letter.
“You are an outstanding advocate,” Willis wrote, according to the letter obtained by WSB-TV.
USA Today reported:
Nathan Wade, the Georgia special prosecutor hired by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to lead the election fraud case against Donald Trump, has resigned just hours after a judge ruled that either he or Willis had to step down in order for the case to proceed.
Willis accepted Wade’s resignation in a letter released Friday afternoon and thanked the private lawyer, with whom she’d had a romantic relationship that threw the case into turmoil.
“I will always remember − and will remind everyone − that you were brave 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.
The extraordinary chapter in an already unprecedented case − a former president charged with illegally trying to overturn his election loss − started in January when a Trump co-defendant, Michael Roman, alleged in court documents that Willis and Wade were romantic partners who had enriched themselves through the sprawling election racketeering case.
Judge Scott McAfee held three days of explosive hearings in February that featured a surprise appearance on the stand by Willis herself.
He ruled on Friday that “an odor of mendacity” clung to Willis’ testimony, and said that the district attorney could either remove Wade or see her office disqualified from the case.
In his resignation letter, obtained by USA TODAY, Wade noted that McAfee had ruled the defendants had “failed to meet their burden” of proving an actual conflict of interest in the case. But, he said, “I am offering my resignation in the interest of democracy, in dedication to the American public, and to move this case forward as quickly as possible.”
Legal experts are baffled by Judge McAfee’s cowardly ruling:
Jonathan Turley, attorney and legal analyst, slammed the decision, saying, “It’s like finding two people in a bank vault and taking one off to jail.”
Watch:
BREAKING: Jonathan Turley blasts Judge Scott McAfee over ruling that Fani Willis either recuse herself or remove lover Nathan Wade from the Trump case, says, “It’s like finding two people in a bank vault and taking one off to jail. WATCH pic.twitter.com/iCdzyDOrQ2
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) March 15, 2024
Judge Napolitano was also baffled, telling Newsmax it was “misbehavior, horrible judgment and perjury.”
“[Fulton County D.A. Fani Willis] will have to answer to the voters for her misbehavior, horrible judgement and perjury in this case.”
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) March 15, 2024
— Judge Andrew Napolitano@Judgenap @ShaunKraisman @EmmaRechenberg pic.twitter.com/YnA6qz935v
Alan Dershowitz said the evidence is “overwhelming” to not only remove Fani from this case but “criminally prosecute” her.
“This ought to be a criminal investigation of Fani Willis and the two witnesses. I think we are well beyond disqualification.”
Alan Dershowitz stated the evidence is overwhelming to criminally prosecute Fani Willis:
— Tony Seruga (@TonySeruga) March 15, 2024
• They had an affair before she hired him (perjury)
• She benefited financially (embezzlement)
• He was not qualified to do the job earning $700,000
“This ought to be a criminal… pic.twitter.com/3A91vWq25l
Civil rights attorney, Leo Terrell, posted a video message slamming Judge McAfee’s ruling: “The judge got it wrong. Fani Willis should be disqualified. Nathan Wade should be disqualified. The case should be dismissed!”
“Judge McAfee, you should be ashamed of yourself.”
Watch:
Message to Judge McAfee pic.twitter.com/VRDFqHmvZi
— LeoTerrell (@TheLeoTerrell) March 15, 2024
President Trump responded:
🚨 Trump responds to Nathan Wade’s resignation pic.twitter.com/wmsIlqQMf0
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) March 15, 2024
