Judge allows Fani Willis to stay on case after Nathan Wade resigns
Judge Scott McAfee ruled that Fulton County DA Fani Willis could continue prosecuting Trump's Georgia RICO case, but only if special prosecutor Nathan Wade resigned due to their romantic relationship. Wade immediately stepped down. The ruling came after weeks of contentious hearings where Trump co-defendants alleged Willis had a financial conflict of interest because she hired Wade as special prosecutor while they were dating. A former friend testified their relationship began earlier than claimed. Willis delivered fiery testimony defending herself, saying "I'm not on trial" despite Trump's effort to turn the case into an investigation of her personal life. The judge found an "appearance of impropriety" but no actual financial conflict, allowing Willis to remain while Wade departed. Critics noted the spectacle had successfully delayed the trial, benefiting Trump's run-out-the-clock strategy. NPR reported Wade "accepted the resignation" to preserve the prosecution.
“I'm not on trial.” — Fani Willis during combative testimony defending her relationship with Nathan Wade, February 15, 2024
Analysis Feed
AI commentaryCreated as part of Georgia election interference narrative. The disqualification effort, while ultimately unsuccessful in removing Willis, achieved Trump's real goal: delay and distraction. By making Willis's personal life the story rather than Trump's criminal conduct, the defense successfully delayed the trial past the 2024 election. Willis's defiant testimony ('I'm not on trial') was powerful but the damage was done - months of proceedings examining her relationship rather than Trump's crimes. The judge's middle-ground ruling (Willis stays, Wade goes) kept the case alive but severely delayed.