Nathan Wade calls relationship with Fani Willis 'American as apple pie'
Former Trump special prosecutor Nathan Wade told 'Good Morning America' that he regrets his romantic involvement with Fani Willis distracted from the importance of the Georgia election case.
Former Georgia special prosecutor Nathan Wade broke his silence Monday about his "workplace romance" with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, which he said was "American as apple pie."
Wade spoke to ABC News' Linsey Davis in his first media interview since resigning from the Georgia election interference case against former President Trump in March.
"Workplace romances are as American as apple pie," Wade said in an interview that aired on "Good Morning America." "It happens to everyone. But it happened to the two of us."
Asked if he regretted the relationship, Wade said he did because it became the focus of the case. Their past romance and Willis' defiant posture when confronted over the appearance of impropriety upended the case and alarmed even progressives.
JUDGE RULES FANI WILLIS MUST STEP ASIDE FROM TRUMP CASE OR FIRE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR NATHAN WADE
Former Georgie special prosecutor Nathan Wade spoke to ABC News in his first interview since resigning from the Georgie election interference case. (Screenshot/ABC)
"I regret that that private matter became the focal point of this very important prosecution," Wade said. "This is a very important case."
Davis also asked about why they didn't consider making a statement about their relationship when it first started.
"My conversation here with you today is just that. It’s Nathan’s conversation. I do not speak for the district attorney’s office. I do not speak for their position. As a matter of fact, I am certain that they would rather me not be having this exchange with you. With that, I want to continue to protect the integrity of this prosecution. I don’t want to say or do anything that would jeopardize this case," Wade said.
The former prosecutor asserted that he didn't think the news of their relationship did any damage to the case.
Wade resigned from the case after Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee ruled that either Willis or Wade had to remove themselves from the prosecution. Willis was accused of having an "improper" affair with Wade, whom she hired in 2021. Willis and Wade claim their relationship began in 2022, and Wade said their relationship ended in the summer of 2023, but they remained friends.
GEORGIA LAWMAKER DEMANDS FANI WILLIS STEP ASIDE IN TRUMP ELECTION CASE: ‘HER CREDIBILITY IS SHOT’
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis looks on during a hearing in the case of the State of Georgia v. Donald John Trump at the Fulton County Courthouse on March 1, 2024, in Atlanta. (Alex Slitz-Pool/Getty Images)
Willis said she doesn’t feel her reputation has been tarnished as she moves forward with her 2020 election interference case against Trump.
"I don’t feel like my reputation needs to be reclaimed," Willis told CNN in March. "I guess my greatest crime is I had a relationship with a man. That’s not something I find embarrassing in any way. And I know that I have not done anything that’s illegal."
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Fox News' Brie Stimson, Brianna Herlihy, Chris Pandolfo and Louis Casiano contributed to this report.