BREAKING: Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade Resigns From Donald Trump Case Following Ruling

On Friday, Fulton County District Attorney office's special prosecutor Nathan Wade issued his resignation from the RICO case against 45th President Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants following Judge Scott McAfee's ruling that demanded he resign from the case or else the district attorney would have to withdraw.

"The furtherance of the rule of law and democracy is and has always been the North Star of our combined efforts in the prosecution of those who are alleged to have attempted to overthrow the results of Georgia's 2020 Presidential Election. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that a Fulton County jury in a Fulton County courtroom renders a true and just verdict in this case," Wade wrote. "As directed by the Order today... I hereby offer my resignation, effective immediately, as Special Prosecutor for the Fulton County District Attorney's office."

Wade then claimed that he was offering his resignation "in the interest of democracy" and explained that he was proud of his work. "I am sure that the case and the team will be in good hands moving forward, and justice will be served."

Judge McAfee explained in his ruling that no "disqualification of a constitutional officer necessary when a less drastic and sufficiently remedial option is available." McAfee concluded that there was an "appearance of impropriety" due to Willis's relationship with Wade but that there was no "actual conflict" that resulted from the affair. The judge clearly chose the middle-of-the-road option by giving the State a choice to choose who would be dismissed. "The prosecution of this case cannot proceed until the State selects one of two options," he wrote. Either "the District Attorney may choose to step aside, along with the whole of her office" or "Wade can withdraw."

"The other alleged grounds for disqualification, including forensic misconduct, are also denied. However, the established record now highlights a significant appearance of impropriety that infects the current structure of the prosecution team - an appearance that must be removed through the State's selection of one of two options. The Defendants' motions are therefore granted in part," he wrote. "This finding is by no means an indication that the Court condones this tremendous lapse in judgment or the unprofessional manner of the District Attorney's testimony during the evidentiary hearing. Rather, it is the undersigned's opinion that Georgia law does not permit the finding of an actual conflict for simply making bad choices — even repeatedly — and it is the trial court's duty to confine itself to the relevant issues and applicable law properly brought before it."

President Trump and 18 other allies were charged by Willis' office last year for their actions following the 2020 presidential election. Trump specifically was hit with 13 charges, including "Violation Of The Georgia Rico (Racketeer Influenced And Corrupt Organizations) Act," "Solicitation Of Violation Of Oath By Public Officer," "Conspiracy To Commit False Statements and Writings," and "Conspiracy To Commit Forgery in the First Degree," as well as a number of other charges. Earlier this week, however, McAfee dismissed three of the charges against Trump and three against other co-defendants.

The judge noted that the charges, which have to deal with soliciting elected officials to violate their oaths of office, could be refiled within six months with additional evidence from Fani Willis' office, but he ruled that the charges did not suffice as written.

Read Wade's full resignation letter below:

This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly.

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