Nathan Wade, a former special prosecutor with the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office, testified before the House Judiciary Committee, making notable admissions about his professional relationship with District Attorney Fani Willis and his connections with the Biden administration. Wade’s revelations come amidst the conduct and strategies employed by Willis in her investigation of Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia.
During his testimony, Wade detailed his professional background, explaining that he had served as a special assistant district attorney under Willis. Wade clarified that he was retained by the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office at Willis’ request, stating that she was the sole authority responsible for his appointment as special prosecutor. Wade, who had previously worked in various capacities as a prosecutor and defense attorney in Georgia, said that his appointment was aimed at leading the prosecution team against Trump and other co-defendants.
“The only person who had the authority to appoint me as special prosecutor was the District Attorney of Fulton County, Georgia, at the time,” Wade said. “That’s who had the authority to make the appointment.”
A crucial part of Wade’s testimony involved his acknowledgment of having met with officials from the Biden administration. Wade confirmed two meetings that took place during the investigation led by Willis, suggesting potential coordination between local and federal entities. The meetings occurred in mid-April 2022 in Washington, D.C., where Wade and other top members of Willis’ prosecution team met with congressional staffers, including representatives from the January 6th Committee. According to Wade, these meetings were focused on sharing insights related to the Trump investigation, although he maintained that no evidence was shared or retained by federal officials.
The “Committee staff quietly met with lawyers and agents working for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis in mid-April 2022. Some of Willis’ top prosecutors attended, including Wade, as well as investigators on her team,” the transcript read.
In addition to Wade’s admissions, the committee discussed allegations against Willis regarding the misuse of federal grant funds allocated for the investigation. Committee staff entered a Free Beacon article into the record, suggesting inconsistencies in how Willis handled the grant funds. Wade, however, denied any involvement or knowledge of federal grant administration, maintaining that his role was strictly prosecutorial.
“The committee has received information that DA Willis has misused Federal grant funds. Just curious if you have any knowledge as to how grant funds are used at the Fulton County District Attorney’s office?” Wade responded, “No, ma’am, I do not.”
Trump’s legal team has consistently claimed that Willis’ investigation was coordinated with the Biden administration, using it as a political weapon to damage Trump’s prospects in the 2024 presidential election. Wade’s admission of meetings with federal officials might lend some credibility to these claims, although no direct evidence of political interference was presented during the testimony.
As the interview drew to a close, Wade maintained that he had acted professionally and ethically throughout his tenure as a special prosecutor, insisting that the focus of his work was solely on upholding Georgia’s legal standards and not on advancing any political agenda. Wade also said that he voluntarily cooperated with the committee’s investigation, seeking to clarify any misunderstandings about his role in the Trump case. In March, a judge from Fulton County decided that Willis could remain on the case as long as Wade stepped down. Following this decision, Wade resigned from the case. The House Judiciary Committee plans to continue its inquiry into the Fulton County investigation.
