Nathan Wade, a former prosecutor involved in the Donald Trump election interference case in Georgia, opened up about his highly publicized affair with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, expressing regret not for the relationship itself but for the public controversy it ignited. In his first interview since resigning from the case, Wade spoke candidly about the impact of his personal life becoming entangled with a major legal battle.
Wade, who stepped down in March following a court ruling that necessitated either his or Willis’s departure from the case, discussed the relationship during an interview with ABC News’ Linsey Davis. He emphasized that workplace romances are commonplace, stating that they are “as American as apple pie,” and reflecting on the natural development of such relationships, even amidst high-stakes environments.
The affair came to light when one of Trump’s co-defendants alleged that Wade and Willis had been romantically involved before Wade’s official hiring in 2021, claims that contributed to questions about the fairness and integrity of the prosecution. Both Wade and Willis acknowledged their romantic link, though they maintained that the relationship started only in 2022, after Wade had joined the Trump case, and ended in 2023.
This timeline has been contested by others, including a former DA employee who suggested the pair were involved as early as 2019 or 2020. Accusations also surfaced that Willis may have prolonged the Trump case to benefit Wade financially, enabling them to go on extravagant trips together.
Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee, while ruling that there wasn’t enough evidence to prove a conflict of interest, noted an “odor of mendacity” surrounding the case, leading to his decision that one of the two involved had to resign. Wade chose to step down shortly after this ruling.
Reflecting on the affair and its implications, Wade acknowledged that emotions do not always conform to logic, especially “when feelings are so strong.” He regretted the overshadowing of the case’s core issues by his personal matters, underscoring the unintended consequences of private actions in the public sphere.