Trump's Side "Special Prosecutor Appointed for Political Purposes"
Prosecutor Resigns... Inevitable Setback to Maintaining Indictment
Special prosecutor Nathan Wade, who investigated former U.S. President Donald Trump's attempt to overturn the 2020 election results, resigned amid controversy over allegations of an affair with his superior.
According to CNN on the 15th (local time), Wade, who was appointed last August to investigate Trump's alleged attempt to overturn the 2020 Georgia election results, stepped down from his special prosecutor position.
This followed an order from Judge Scott McAfee of the Fulton County Superior Court in Georgia earlier that day, who, at the request of Trump's legal team, directed either Wade or his appointer, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, to recuse themselves from the case.
During last month's hearing, both DA Willis and Special Prosecutor Wade admitted to maintaining a "romantic relationship" but insisted that no improper benefits were exchanged. However, Judge McAfee noted that while the allegations and evidence were legally insufficient to prove a substantial conflict of interest, their relationship appeared "inappropriate."
He pointed out, "Even if the romantic relationship began after Wade's initial contract in November 2021, the DA chose to continue overseeing Wade and paying his salary while maintaining the relationship." Ultimately, with the resignation of the lead prosecutor most familiar with the case, it seems inevitable that there will be some disruption in maintaining the prosecution against former President Trump.
Trump is accused of pressuring Brad Raffensperger, Georgia's Secretary of State, in early January 2021 to "find 11,780 votes" to overturn his 11,779-vote loss in the battleground state during the 2020 election.
After the call was made public, DA Willis launched an investigation in February 2021. She appointed a special prosecutor to continue the investigation, which led to the indictment of Trump and his associates last August following a grand jury decision. Subsequently, Trump's legal team raised allegations of an affair between Willis and Wade, claiming that Willis appointed her lover Wade as special prosecutor with political motives to indict Trump.
Meanwhile, on the 13th, Judge McAfee dismissed some charges against six defendants, including former President Trump, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, citing insufficient evidence to prove allegations such as coercing key Georgia officials to select pro-Trump electors.
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