Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been ordered to pay over $54,000 in attorney fees for violating Georgia’s Open Records Act, according to court documents. This ruling stems from Willis’ office failing to provide requested records to defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant, who represents Michael Roman, a former Trump campaign aide indicted alongside President Donald Trump in the Georgia election interference case.
Judge Rules Against Fani Willis in Open Records Dispute
According to Newsweek, Friday’s ruling marks yet another legal setback for Willis, who has already been disqualified from prosecuting the case against Trump and 18 other co-defendants accused of attempting to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia.
Willis was removed from the case in December after the Georgia Court of Appeals determined her relationship with Nathan Wade, a former special prosecutor, created an “appearance of impropriety.” Wade was forced to resign in October amid allegations that he improperly benefited from taxpayer funds while working on the case.
🚨 Key Developments:
✔ Willis filed an appeal in January, arguing that she was wrongfully disqualified without evidence of an actual conflict of interest.
✔ The judge ruled that her office was “openly hostile” to Merchant’s document requests and showed a “lack of good faith.”
✔ Willis has 30 days to turn over all requested records and pay $54,264 to Merchant, covering nearly 80 hours of legal work.
Merchant Accuses Willis of Withholding Crucial Documents
Attorney Ashleigh Merchant previously accused Willis’ office of concealing records related to Nathan Wade’s employment and the allocation of public funds.
Merchant’s Statement on X:
🗣 “Proud that we have judges willing to hold people in power accountable when they ignore the law!!!”
Georgia Senate Moves to Help Trump & Co-Defendants Seek Legal Reimbursement
In a related development, the Georgia Senate passed a bill in early March that could allow Trump and his co-defendants to seek reimbursement for legal expenses. The legislation, which passed unanimously, allows counties to cover legal costs if a district attorney is disqualified for misconduct and the case is dismissed.
🔥 Significance of This Bill:
✔ If Trump’s case is dismissed, Fulton County could be responsible for millions in legal reimbursements.
✔ This marks a major legislative response to allegations of prosecutorial misconduct.
Fani Willis’ Troubles Continue: String of Legal Setbacks
📉 This isn’t the first time Willis has faced legal challenges.
In September, a Georgia judge ruled against her in an open records lawsuit related to her election interference probe. Fulton County Judge Rachel Krause denied Willis’ request to dismiss the case but allowed her to remain involved in an official capacity as district attorney.
🕵️ What Was She Accused of Hiding?
✔ Merchant alleged that Willis was concealing records about a media monitoring firm allegedly funded by taxpayer money.
What’s Next for Trump’s Georgia Case?
While Willis and her team have been barred from proceeding with the case, Trump’s indictment remains intact. However, with growing legal and political pressure, the fate of the case remains uncertain.
🔎 Key Questions Moving Forward:
✔ Will Trump and his co-defendants successfully seek legal reimbursement?
✔ Could further legal challenges completely derail the case?
✔ How will Willis’ legal troubles impact future prosecutions in Georgia?
Stay tuned as this high-stakes legal battle unfolds.