A former Georgia special prosecutor who was involved in a Fulton County case against former President Donald Trump and others appeared before a House committee hearing for a deposition on Oct. 15.
Earlier this year, Willis and Wade became embroiled in controversy. A Trump co-defendant’s attorney submitted court papers and witness testimony showing that Willis and Wade were involved in a romantic relationship. The two ultimately admitted to the relationship weeks later, although both denied allegations that the pair financially benefited from the arrangement.
In March, Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee, who wrote that an “odor of mendacity” hangs over the case, ruled that either Wade should step down from his position as special counsel in the case or Willis should remove herself. Wade later submitted his resignation, denying any wrongdoing.
According to Wade’s testimony before the panel, he said that the Trump case was “not politically motivated” and did “nothing to compromise the integrity” of the case.
“My team and I investigated the issues in the election interference case for more than two years,” he wrote. “This case was not politically motivated. Rather, it was an independent investigation based upon facts, interviews, evidence, and the rule of law. I had no mandate other than to honestly seek the truth.”
He also disputed previous claims from Republicans that officials in the White House, the White House counsel’s office, the House Jan. 6 investigative committee, or the U.S. Department of Justice were involved in the case.
When asked during a break about whether Wade would invoke the Constitution’s Fifth Amendment, which protects individuals from self-incrimination, Wade’s lawyer, former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes, suggested that no crime was committed.
“What crime has been committed here?” he asked.
“We gave our testimony, cooperated, and we’re through,” Barnes told reporters in the Capitol as Wade stood near him in the hall.
When asked whether he believed it was an effective meeting, Barnes responded in the affirmative. When asked why, he responded, “We answered questions.”
Wade did not respond to any questions that reporters had asked him. No further details were provided, and Barnes would not answer questions about Willis or the case.
In a letter directed to Wade in her official capacity, Willis warned him that he had confidentiality obligations in connection to the Trump case.
“It is incumbent upon you, and your counsel, to guard against the unauthorized disclosure of confidential information by invoking all applicable legal protections and privileges” during the House deposition, Willis wrote to Wade.
Willis, in a letter to Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), the Judiciary Committee’s Chairman, wrote that Wade’s deposition may “interfere with ongoing proceedings” in the case, further suggesting that the panel should call off Wade’s testimony in the matter.
Willis’s office has accused the former president and more than a dozen other individuals of trying to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia as well as racketeering.
Trump and most of the co-defendants in the case have pleaded not guilty, although several people who were initially charged came to a plea agreement with prosecutors, pleading guilty in exchange for lighter penalties. The former president, who faces separate charges in other jurisdictions, has said the cases are politically motivated attempts to sway the 2024 presidential election.
A court filing submitted by Willis’s office over the summer attempted to have the appeals court dismiss the disqualification bid because there was not enough evidence.
The Fulton County district attorney’s office and Wade’s attorneys did not respond to requests for comment by press time.
