Nathan Wade, the former special prosecutor for Fulton County involved in the Georgia election interference case against former President Donald Trump, spoke publicly for the first time since resigning from the case amid a public disqualification battle over his relationship with District Attorney Fani Willis. Wade, who stepped down from the case last month following a judge's decision, expressed some regrets about the relationship but stood by the integrity of the case against Trump and others moving forward.
"Workplace romances are common occurrences," Wade told ABC News' Linsey Davis in an exclusive interview. "But it happened to the two of us."
When asked if he regretted the situation, Wade replied, "I regret that this private matter became the focal point of this important prosecution. My personal life should not overshadow the real issues in the case."
More of the interview is scheduled to air on ABC's "Good Morning America" on Monday.
Wade resigned from the case shortly after Judge Scott McAfee ruled that either Willis or Wade must step aside due to a "significant appearance of impropriety" arising from their romantic relationship while prosecuting the case. McAfee found "insufficient evidence" of an actual conflict of interest.
Trump and other defendants have sought an appeal of the judge's ruling, also seeking Willis's removal. The Georgia Court of Appeals has yet to decide on the appeal.
Willis and Wade testified that their relationship started in early 2022 and ended in the summer of 2023, after Wade was hired for the case in November 2021.
Asked if he thought about pausing the relationship until after the case, given the stakes for democracy, Wade admitted he did consider it, but "the feelings are so strong."
"At some point, when that bond is there, and if democracy is at stake, as it has been described, do you consider pausing this until after the case?" Davis asked.
"Absolutely, absolutely. I'll admit that could have been an approach," said Wade, who has returned to private practice. "But when you are in the midst of it, these feelings develop, and you reach a point where the feelings are so strong that you start wanting to do things that really are not the public's concern."
Four defendants in the case have pleaded guilty, while Trump and the remaining 14 defendants have pleaded not guilty.