Read Full Nathan Wade Resignation Letter to Fani Willis

Nathan Wade, lead prosecutor in the Georgia election subversion case against former President Donald Trump, has resigned from his position in the Fulton County District Attorney's Office.

Wade and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' prosecution of the former president has been tangled in controversy after the pair admitted to having a romantic relationship while investigating Trump's actions related to the 2020 presidential election in the state of Georgia. Both prosecutors have been steadfast in their stance that the relationship did not cause a conflict of interest in Trump's case.

Willis wrote in a letter signed on Friday that she had received a resignation letter from Wade that was "effective immediately," and she thanked the prosecutor for "the professionalism and dignity you have shown over the last 865 days." Wade was hired to manage Trump's case in November 2021.

The Context:

Willis was given the green light to remain on the election subversion case earlier in the day Friday by Judge Scott McAfee, who presided over hearings regarding claims by one of Trump's co-defendants that Willis and Wade's relationship caused a conflict of interest in the investigation. Attorneys for the defendant, Mike Roman, said in a filing in January that Willis had been "profiting personally from this prosecution" by using taxpayers' money to fund vacations taken by Willis and Wade.

McAfee ultimately ruled that Willis could remain on the case as long as Wade stepped down from his position. The judge also criticized the prosecutors' relationship while issuing his decision on Friday, calling it a "tremendous lapse in judgment."

What We Know:

Wade acknowledged McAfee's ruling in his resignation letter to Willis, adding that he was "offering my resignation in the interest of democracy, in dedication to the American public, and to move this case forward as quickly as possible."

"I am proud of the work our team has accomplished in the investigation, indictment, and litigation of this case," Wade wrote. "Seeking justice for the people of Georgia and the United States, and being part of the effort to ensure that the rule of law and democracy are preserved, as been the honor of a lifetime."

Willis said in her letter responding to Wade that she accepted his resignation and that she 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."

"Others who were considered were understandably concerned for the safety of themselves and their families that would arise from their acceptance of your role," she wrote. "You were the one who had the courage to accept the role, even though you did not seek it."

Views:

While the judge seemed critical of Willis and Wade, McAfee wrote in his 23-page decision on Friday that the defendants in the case "failed to meet their burden of proving that the District Attorney acquired an actual conflict of interest in this case through her personal relationship and recurring travels with her lead prosecutor."

Roman's attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, said in a statement on Friday that McAfee's ruling was a "vindication" for the defense despite failing to win their original request, which was to remove Willis from the case all together.

"The judge clearly agreed with the defense that the actions of Willis are a result of her poor judgment and that there is a risk to the future of this case if she doesn't quickly work to cure her conflict," she said in a statement on Friday to CNN.

"While we do not agree that the courts suggested cure is adequate in response to the egregious conduct by the district attorney, we look forward to the district attorney's response to the demands by the court. We will continue to fight for our client," the defense attorney added.

Steve Sadow, the lead defense counsel for Trump in the Fulton County case, said in a Friday statement to Newsweek, "While respecting the Court's decision, we believe that the Court did not afford appropriate significance to the prosecutorial misconduct of Willis and Wade, including the financial benefits, testifying untruthfully about when their personal relationship began, as well as Willis' extrajudicial MLK 'church speech,' where she played the race card and falsely accused the defendants and their counsel of racism. We will use all legal options available as we continue to fight to end this case, which should never have been brought in the first place."

The former president also took to Truth Social, his social media platform, Friday afternoon celebrating Wade's move to resign, calling the prosecutor "'special,' in more ways than one" and again claiming that Willis' indictment against him was a form of election interference to benefit President Joe Biden's reelection campaign this fall.

"This is the equivalent of Deranged Jack Smith getting 'canned,' BIG STUFF, something which should happen in the not too distant future!!!" the former president added, referring to the special counsel leading his two federal criminal prosecutions.

Trump, the frontrunner for the next GOP presidential nomination ahead of November, is facing three other criminal trials while running for reelection. One of the cases led by Smith hones in on the former president's actions related to the riot at the U.S. Capitol building on January 6, 2021, and accuses Trump of attempting to overturn his 2020 election loss to Biden.

Newsweek reached out to Willis' office via email for further comment.

What's Next?

Both sides of the case have until March 25 to appeal McAfee's ruling. Under state law, either party would have to first ask McAfee permission to appeal his ruling, and the judge would have to respond in the next 10 days. That window to request an appeal starts on Saturday.

If McAfee grants review of his ruling, the party asking for an appeal would then be given another 10 days to make a request to the Georgia Court of Appeals. The state's appeals court would have 45 days to make a decision on whether to take the case.

Update 03/15/24, 5:51 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and background.