Quick Hit:

On Monday, the full transcript of Nathan Wade’s testimony before the House Judiciary Committee was released, following his deposition last week. Wade repeatedly claimed that his work as special prosecutor in the Fulton County case against former President Donald Trump was "not politically motivated." His claims, however, are now facing deeper scrutiny as new details emerge from his interactions with District Attorney Fani Willis and his role in the investigation.

Key Details:

• Wade claimed the investigation into Trump’s alleged election interference was free from political pressure, stating, "I was never directed, ordered, asked, coerced, or pressured to bring any charges against anyone," and that the decisions were based purely on legal evidence.

• His testimony revealed that he worked closely with District Attorney Fani Willis from the start, initially being part of the search committee to find a lead for the case before he eventually took the role himself. Wade claimed he was supposedly "not eager" to accept the position but was persuaded by Willis.

• Despite his claims of independence, Wade acknowledged there were multiple meetings with Willis and her office throughout the investigation, raising concerns about whether political motivations may have played a role behind the scenes.

Diving Deeper:

The release of Nathan Wade’s full testimony transcript has shed new light on his role as special prosecutor in the Fulton County case against Donald Trump. Wade appeared before the House Judiciary Committee last Monday, where he repeatedly insisted that the prosecution of Trump was "not politically motivated." Wade framed the investigation as an objective and evidence-based process, emphasizing that "no one at the White House, the Department of Justice, or the January 6th Committee" pressured him or his team to pursue charges against Trump.

However, Wade’s close interactions with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis throughout the investigation raised red flags for committee members. Wade admitted he was part of the initial search committee tasked with finding someone to lead the Trump case but ultimately accepted the role himself after several candidates declined. Wade noted that DA Willis played a central role in convincing him to take the position, despite his initial reluctance. "I said no more than once," Wade testified, explaining how he was eventually persuaded to lead what he described as "unlike anything that has ever happened in American history."

The questioning from House Judiciary members also brought attention to Wade's decision to impanel a special grand jury in response to what he described as a "lack of cooperation from witnesses and government officials." This grand jury ultimately recommended multiple indictments, including against Trump. Wade continued to insist that his involvement was strictly professional, but the close ties between him and DA Willis were hard to ignore. Wade had multiple meetings and discussions with Willis about the case, and while he claimed these interactions were routine, committee members have pointed out the potential for political influence.

Adding to the controversy, Wade’s testimony also revealed the ongoing communication between his office and other government entities. While Wade repeatedly claimed he never received directives from federal agencies, the close involvement of Willis throughout the process raises concerns about the level of independence in one of the most high-profile cases in modern U.S. history.

Wade’s testimony, along with the now-released transcript, will likely fuel more questions about his role in the Trump indictment and whether the process was truly independent. Despite Wade’s denials of political motivation, his romantic relationship with a former boss and the special grand jury’s recommendation of charges against Trump leave many unanswered questions.