In a surprising move that stunned guests, former lead prosecutor Nathan Wade made an appearance at Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ primary election night party on Tuesday.
Wade and Willis were subject to prosecutorial misconduct allegations that could still derailed their case against former President Donald Trump. Still, they were seen partying together late into the night after Willis’ Democratic primary victory.
Wade admitted to a past sexual relationship with Willis — a confession that led to his resignation from the high-profile case in March. Yet he was spotted mingling and “all smiles” at Willis’ victory party in the Buckhead area of Atlanta, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“Well consider me shook. At DA Willis’ campaign party in Buckhead and Nathan Wade just walked in,” journalist Tamar Hallerman tweeted alongside a photo of Wade at the event.
Well consider me shook. At DA Willis’ campaign party in Buckhead and Nathan Wade just walked in. All smiles pic.twitter.com/hc7uKPn5ka
— Tamar Hallerman (@TamarHallerman) May 21, 2024
The sighting comes just weeks after Wade was forced to resign from the Trump prosecution due to a judge’s ruling that either he or Willis had to be removed because their relationship created a “significant” conflict of interest and “appearance of impropriety.”
Willis’ office paid Wade thousands in taxpayer money to join her case as a prosecutor. Wade had previously spent lavishly on Willis while they were in a relationship, including taking her on luxury vacations. Willis claimed her share of the luxury vacations were later reimbursed with cash.
Trump’s legal team had accused Willis and Wade of having an improper relationship and said it clearly benefited Willis financially.
Wade’s shocking attendance capped a night of triumph for Willis, who handily defeated her Democratic primary challenger Christian Wise Smith by over 30,000 votes to secure the nomination. Fulton County reported the Democratic primary results quickly, despite serious issues in past elections. The race was called within 30 minutes of polls closing.
Willis’ campaign is now set for a general election showdown against Trump-aligned Republican candidate Courtney Kramer.
In her victory speech to supporters, a glittering blue dress-clad Willis issued a defiant message about her controversial prosecution efforts.
“It’s a message that is pissing folks off, but there is no one above the law in this country nor is there anyone beneath it,” the DA stated.
Both Willis and Wade have denied the most salacious allegations by critics, with Wade recently dismissing their sexual liaison and financial relationship as simply a “workplace romance” that is “American as apple pie” in media interviews.
“I regret that that private matter became the focal point of this very important prosecution,” Wade told ABC News. “This is a very important case.”
Still, the revelations threw the Trump racketeering case into chaos and disarray, with Trump and his co-defendants appealing to the judge to have Willis removed entirely over the conflict of interest.
Despite the turmoil, Tuesday’s election results will only reinforce Willis’ pursuit of the explosive case against the former president and his allies.
And she and her former lover are “all smiles.”