Former Donald Trump prosecutor Nathan Wade made an absurd claim that he and Fani Willis ended their affair the “moment” they realized they were in love with each other — a statement completely at odds with his ex-lover’s version of events.
Speaking to ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Wade claimed he developed feelings for the Fulton County district attorney, who appointed him as special prosecutor to the election fraud case in 2021 “over time.”
“You don’t plan to fall in love,” he told the show, in his first interview since he was made to resign from the case in March.
Former Donald Trump prosecutor Nathan Wade suggested in a new interview that he didn’t regret his affair with Fani Willis. ABC News“You don’t plan to have some relationship in the workplace. You don’t set out to do that. Those things develop organically. They develop over time.
“The minute we had that sobering moment, we discontinued it,” he claimed.
Wade’s statement contradicted Willis’ testimony in February that there was “always” tension in her relationship with Wade and that they would have “brutal arguments” about the fact she was his equal.
“Mr. Wade is used to women that, as he told me one time, the only thing a woman can do for him is make him a sandwich,” she said at a hearing focused on whether Willis has a conflict of interest in the election interference case against Trump and his allies.
“I regret that that private matter became the focal point of this very important prosecution,” Wade said. ABC News“I don’t need anything from a man. A man is not a plan. A man is a companion.”
Wade split from his wife years ago but only negotiated a temporary settlement with her in January, bringing the matter toward a close.
He and Willis have repeatedly insisted their romance didn’t start until 2022 after Wade had been selected to prosecute the Trump case, and that things between them ended in 2023.
Wade offered the comments in his first sit-down since he resigned from the Georgia election interference case in March. REUTERS
Wade conceded to ABC that he and Willis could have put a stop to their feelings and held off until after their case, but that romance doesn’t always follow the rules of logic. via REUTERSHowever, the entire case threatened to derail when lawyers for the defendants presented evidence that the couple had been an item before Wade’s appointment to the court, which they claimed showed a clear conflict of interest.
It was also alleged that Willis prolonged the case against Trump and his co-defendants so Wade could rake in more pay from the county, which he then used to take her on lavish trips.
After a number of hearings, Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee ruled in March that there was a “significant appearance of impropriety” in the hiring and either Willis or Wade would have to step down. Wade announced his resignation the same day.
The scandal continues to threaten to upend the DA’s case against Trump. Steven HirschAsked by ABC News’ Linsey Davis if he regretted the relationship with Willis, who is still prosecuting the case, Wade gave a roundabout response.
“I regret that a private matter became the focal point of this very important prosecution. This is a very important case,” he said.
What to know about District Attorney Fani Willis' trial
- Fulton County, Ga., District Attorney Fani Willis is being accused of misusing state and federal funds, and also engaging in an “improper” relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade.
- Willis admitted to having a “personal relationship” with Wade, but said it didn’t become romantic until after 2022 due to the case against former President Donald Trump.
- Willis hired Wade to work on the Trump case and paid him $654,000 in 2022, according to Trump co-defendant Michael Roman.
- Trump and his co-defendants are looking to disqualify Willis from the case and to have all charges, centered around the state’s expansive anti-racketeering RICO law, dismissed.
- The defense has presented dozens of pings from Wade’s cellphone that placed it at Willis’ rented condo prior to 2022. A former friend of Willis, who owned the condo, has testified that she saw the two of them “hugging” and “kissing” in 2019.
- On March 15, a judge ruled Willis can stay on and prosecute the Georgia election interference case against Trump and his co-defendants for allegedly trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election — if Wade steps aside.
“I hate that my personal life has begun to overshadow the true issues in the case.”
During the interview, Wade appeared to downplay the scandalous affair that still threatens to upend the DA’s case against the former president.
“Workplace romances are as American as apple pie,” he said, adding: “It happens to everyone. But it happened to the two of us.”
