A key figure in the prosecution of Donald Trump in Georgia reveals surprising details about his preparation for the case.
According to National Review, Nathan Wade, a former special prosecutor in the high-profile election fraud case against Donald Trump, admitted to a House committee last week that he lacked essential experience in racketeering law before taking on the case.
Wade, who led the prosecution for a considerable time, revealed that before being appointed, he had never worked in a district attorney’s office or handled a RICO case. His lack of experience raised questions about his ability to manage such a sprawling and complex case, which involved allegations that Trump and his associates tried to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results.
In his closed-door testimony to the House Judiciary Committee, Wade openly acknowledged his inexperience. When asked if he had prosecuted a RICO case before, he simply replied, "No." To compensate for his unfamiliarity with the complex legal framework, Wade said he sought the guidance of John Floyd, a racketeering expert who helped train him in RICO law.
Wade described the process of learning about the intricate legal concept, stating that Floyd, whom he referred to as "the dubbed godfather of RICO," spent extensive hours teaching him the nuances of the statute.
"I went to … what I would call RICO school to learn about what it is, what it means, and how it works," Wade testified. Despite his crash course in RICO law, Wade was given full authority over the prosecution and was not overseen by any other prosecutor during his time on the case.
Wade admitted that he was reluctant to take on the case and declined the position multiple times before ultimately accepting. He explained that part of the reason he eventually agreed to lead the prosecution was due to the "interesting legal issues" the case posed.
During his testimony, Wade also revealed that he met with officials from the Biden administration on several occasions while working on the Trump case. However, he was hesitant to disclose specific details about those meetings. Similarly, Wade said he had discussions with lawyers connected to the January 6th Committee but again declined to elaborate on the content of those discussions.
Facing growing scrutiny, Wade resigned from the case in March 2023 after Judge Scott McAfee ruled that either Wade must step down or Willis should cease prosecuting Trump and his associates. Wade’s resignation came amidst personal turmoil, as he was also dealing with divorce proceedings at the time.
After his resignation, Wade testified that he had minimal contact with the Fulton County District Attorney’s office. As of June, the case against Trump and his co-defendants has been delayed, with a Georgia appeals court ruling that the trial will not proceed until after the 2024 presidential election. This delay was viewed as a legal victory for Trump, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges and continues to claim that the prosecution is politically motivated.
The delay in Trump’s trial until after the 2024 election provides his defense team more time to prepare their case. Trump’s legal team has also been appealing Judge McAfee’s previous ruling, and they are considering filing motions to disqualify Willis from the case due to her alleged conflict of interest with Wade.
Throughout his testimony, Wade repeatedly claimed that he could not recall specific details of meetings and events related to the case, further complicating his role and the integrity of the prosecution. As the trial looms, Trump’s legal team is expected to continue fighting the charges, arguing that the case is a politically motivated attack. Meanwhile, the revelations about Wade’s inexperience and training raise questions about the prosecution’s ability to effectively handle such a high-stakes case.
Wade’s admission of needing specialized RICO training has sparked controversy in legal circles, with critics questioning whether he was the right person to lead such a significant case. The fact that at least two more experienced lawyers declined the role only adds to the concerns about the prosecution’s handling of the charges against Trump.
