Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been ordered to pay over $54,000 in penalties after a judge ruled she violated Georgia’s Open Records Act by failing to provide documents requested in the Trump election interference case.
At a Glance
- Fani Willis must pay $54,000 in attorney fees for violating Georgia’s Open Records Act
- The violation stemmed from Willis refusing to provide records requested by defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant
- The judge found Willis’ office was “openly hostile” to document requests, showing a “lack of good faith”
- Willis was previously disqualified from prosecuting Trump’s case due to an “appearance of impropriety” related to her relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade
- Willis has 30 days to turn over the requested records and pay the attorney fees
Another Legal Setback for Controversial Prosecutor
In what seems to be a never-ending saga of legal missteps, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been hit with a substantial penalty for violating Georgia’s transparency laws. A judge ordered Willis to pay over $54,000 in attorney fees after determining her office deliberately stonewalled document requests from defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant, who represents Michael Roman, a co-defendant with Donald Trump in the Georgia election interference case Willis brought in 2023.
The court found Willis’ office was “openly hostile” to Merchant’s legitimate requests for public records, with the judge specifically calling out their conduct as showing a complete “lack of good faith.” This isn’t merely a procedural hiccup – it’s a damning indictment of how Willis has handled a high-profile case that has already been marred by controversy and questions about her professional conduct.
Pattern of Questionable Conduct
This penalty comes on the heels of Willis being disqualified from prosecuting the case against Trump and his co-defendants earlier this year. That disqualification stemmed from what the court called an “appearance of impropriety” related to Willis’ romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, whom she had appointed as a special prosecutor in the case. The relationship raised serious questions about conflicts of interest and improper financial arrangements.
“Proud that we have judges willing to hold people in power accountable when they ignore the law!!!” – Ashleigh Merchant
Willis has appealed her disqualification, arguing that no Georgia court has ever removed a district attorney based merely on an appearance of impropriety without an actual conflict of interest. Meanwhile, her office accused Merchant’s law firm of trying to “undermine” the prosecution – a claim that rings hollow in light of the judge’s findings that it was Willis’ office acting in bad faith by obstructing legitimate document requests.
Potential Financial Consequences Mount
The financial and legal troubles for Willis may be just beginning. The Georgia Senate passed a bill that would allow Trump and his co-defendants to seek reimbursement for legal expenses if a district attorney is disqualified due to misconduct and the case is dismissed. With Willis already disqualified and now facing penalties for violating open records laws, the potential for taxpayers to be on the hook for even more money continues to grow.
“No Georgia court has ever disqualified a district attorney for the mere appearance of impropriety without the existence of an actual conflict of interest.” – Fani Willis
Willis now has 30 days to both provide the requested records and pay the attorney fees. Meanwhile, the future of the election interference case remains uncertain as her disqualification appeal works through the courts. For conservative Americans watching this case unfold, it presents yet another example of questionable prosecutorial conduct in cases involving former President Trump and his associates – and a rare instance where such overreach has faced actual consequences.
