Former Donald Trump prosecutor Nathan Wade admitted to lawmakers last week that he was required to take an extortion law class before signing on to lead the Georgia election fraud case against him.
Wade, who was removed from the case due to an affair with his boss, Fulton County District Attorney Fannie Willis, was questioned by the House Judiciary Committee on Oct. 15, saying he had previously worked in the district attorney's office. He said he had never worked on an extortion case, according to records released Monday.
“I went to what I call 'RICO school' to learn what it is, what it means and how it works,” Wade said in a deposition. I mentioned it in. “It's a very complex legal concept, but the gentleman who wrote this book called 'The Godfather of RICO' spent hours teaching me RICO.”
“He was teaching a RICO course, so I went to that course,” Wade further explained.
Willis, 52, has been accused by President Trump and his co-defendants of misconduct in appointing Wade to the case despite his lack of experience and conflicts of interest caused by their romance.
Lawyers for the two argued that they did not begin dating until Willis appointed Wade to a high-paying, high-profile position. But the judge overseeing the criminal case against the Republican presidential candidate said Willis could only stay on the case if Wade resigned, and Wade resigned in March.
Mr. Wade continued to avoid answering many questions last week, insisting that he did not remember basic details about his work on the case.
At least 58 times during his testimony, Wade said he could not recall key details of Biden's documented interactions with White House officials and members of the House Select Committee investigating the incident on January 6, 2021. ” or “I don’t know.” Capitol riot.
The special counsel charged Willis $250 per hour for meeting with members of the White House Counsel's Office in May 2022, according to invoices obtained by the Judiciary Committee.
“[I]If there had been a meeting with White House Counsel, would it have taken place on or before May 23, 2022?'' Wade was asked at one point, to which he replied, “Yes.''
“Do you remember who your contact was in the White House Counsel's Office?” a Judiciary Committee official asked.
“Not at all,” Wade replied.
“Do you remember who attended this meeting with the White House Counsel?” the staffer asked.
“I don't remember,” Wade said.
“Since you paid for the meeting with the White House Counsel, is it safe to assume that you attended this meeting with the White House Counsel?” the staffer also asked.
“Yes,” Wade confirmed.
Wade also had a “meeting” with White House officials in November 2022, but it is unclear whether that meeting took place in May.
Wade has denied visiting executive residences in his capacity as special counsel, but acknowledged that some witness interviews in the case took place in Washington, D.C., but provided no further details. Not made clear.
Wade also testified that he had never spoken to members of the Biden Justice Department. That includes Special Counsel Jack Smith, who led the federal prosecution of Trump for trying to overturn the 2020 election and mishandling classified documents.
Nor did he mention the discussion with the House Select Committee in April 2022, which charged him a hefty $6,000 for a total of 24 hours worked.
Asked whether he had held Zoom meetings with Trump prosecutors from other jurisdictions, Wade also demurred.
“No one at the White House, the White House Counsel's Office, the Department of Justice, or the January 6th Committee directed, ordered, questioned, or coerced me or any member of my investigative team into whether or not to pursue charges.” , I never pressured anyone,” Wade said in his opening statement.
“To your knowledge, has District Attorney Willis ever met or had any contact with anyone associated with the Biden White House?” a judicial official asked toward the end of the deposition.
“I have no idea what she did,” Wade said.
Wade's attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.
