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Nathan Wade “shook” revelers at Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ primary election victory party Tuesday when he strolled into the event “all smiles.” 

Wade, the former special prosecutor whose love affair with Willis resulted in him being forced to resign from the historic criminal case against former President Donald Trump, was among those gathered at an event space in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood to celebrate the district attorney’s landslide win.

“Well consider me shook,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Tamar Hallerman wrote on X, after spotting Wade dressed to the nines.  


  Willis is facing multiple investigations into her use of taxpayer money at the Fulton County DA’s Office. ERIK S LESSER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Willis is facing multiple investigations into her use of taxpayer money at the Fulton County DA’s Office. ERIK S LESSER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

  Former special prosecutor Nathan Wade arrives before Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis speaks after winning the Democratic primary on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Buckhead, Ga. AP Former special prosecutor Nathan Wade arrives before Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis speaks after winning the Democratic primary on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Buckhead, Ga. AP

Wade walked in “all smiles,” she added. 

The 52-year-old prosecutor’s victory over attorney and author Christian Wise Smith comes as she faces multiple investigations launched by state and federal lawmakers over her alleged misuse of taxpayer money and relationship with Wade. 

“We can’t keep turning a blind eye to what’s going on in that office,” Smith argued on the campaign trail Monday

“Chaos. Corruption. It’s time for us in Fulton County to stand up and take our justice system back,” he said in his plea to voters. 

Willis, who was first elected to head the Atlanta-area DA’s office in 2020, saw her profile dramatically rise after leading the historic criminal investigation and subsequent indictment of Trump over his alleged involvement in a plot to overturn the Peach State’s 2020 election results. 

Willis made no references to the Trump case in a recent three-minute campaign ad, in which she touted going after “gangs and violent offenders.”

“We’ve seen the third-largest crime drop in America,” she claimed in the campaign spot.


  Willis, who was first elected to head the Atlanta-area DA’s office in 2020, saw her profile dramatically rise after leading the historic criminal investigation. REUTERS Willis, who was first elected to head the Atlanta-area DA’s office in 2020, saw her profile dramatically rise after leading the historic criminal investigation. REUTERS

  Christian Wise Smith lost his bid to unseat Willis on Tuesday. The Atlanta Press Club / Facebook Christian Wise Smith lost his bid to unseat Willis on Tuesday. The Atlanta Press Club / Facebook

She predicted Monday that she would “win big” over Smith despite the allegations of misconduct against her. 

With about 55% of the ballots counted by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Willis had nearly 90% of the vote, according to the Associated Press.

In January, nearly five months after charging Trump and his 18 co-defendants — four of whom have pleaded guilty — in her sprawling racketeering case, allegations surfaced that Willis had an “improper” romantic relationship with Wade, whom she hired to handle the 2020 elections case. 

In February, Willis admitted to having a “personal relationship” with Wade, and her paramour was forced to resign from the Trump case by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee. 

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.

Wade collected nearly $654,000 in legal fees since 2022 from the Fulton County DA’s Office for his work on the Trump case, and allegedly paid for multiple lavish trips he took with Willis while employed by her office. 

On Capitol Hill, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is investigating whether Willis misused federal money received from the Justice Department during her investigation into Trump. 

Willis has accused Jordan of attempting to “interfere in a criminal investigation” and being “illegitimate” in his position.  

Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) are running a separate probe into whether the Fulton County DA misused federal funds. 


  Willis will face Republican challenger Courtney Kramer in the general election in November. AP Willis will face Republican challenger Courtney Kramer in the general election in November. AP

At the state level, a special committee in the Georgia Senate is investigating potential conflicts of interest and misuse of public funds by Willis related to her relationship with Wade. 

Willis has vowed not to testify in the state Senate investigation, questioning lawmakers’ authority to subpoena her. 

Willis will face Republican challenger Courtney Kramer in the general election in November.

The district attorney has blasted Kramer as “unqualified” to serve in the role.

Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee, who was randomly assigned last year to preside over the Trump case, also defeated his opponent Tuesday in a nonpartisan election.

The 34-year-old jurist was appointed by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp in December 2022 to fill a vacant judicial spot and he will now serve a full four-year term starting in January.

McAfee beat civil rights attorney and media commentator Robert Patillo. He had received strong bipartisan support to keep his seat on the bench ahead of the election.

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