Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been ordered to pay over $54,000 in attorney’s fees for violating Georgia’s Open Records Act. The ruling comes after Willis’s office failed to provide records requested by Ashleigh Merchant, the defense attorney representing Michael Roman, a co-defendant in the election interference case involving former President Donald Trump.
Judge Rachel Krause of the Fulton County Superior Court issued the order, stating that Willis’s office had been “openly hostile” to Merchant’s requests and exhibited a “lack of good faith” in handling the open records inquiries. The court has mandated that Willis’s office not only pay the $54,103.23 in attorney’s fees but also comply with the outstanding records requests within 30 days.
This development follows previous controversies surrounding Willis’s conduct in the Trump election interference case. Earlier, Merchant had uncovered a romantic and business relationship between Willis and Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor appointed to lead the investigation. This revelation led to Wade’s resignation and further scrutiny of Willis’s role in the case.
The election interference case, which indicted Trump and 18 co-defendants in August 2023, has faced several challenges. Following the disqualification of Willis due to the appearance of conflicts of interest, legal experts have debated whether the case should proceed under new leadership or be dismissed altogether. Critics argue that Willis’s actions have undermined the integrity of the prosecution, while her supporters claim the legal battle is politically motivated.
Willis has continued to fight against open records requests, claiming that her office is immune from such inquiries due to the ongoing nature of the case. However, Georgia courts have ruled that transparency laws apply to her office, compelling the release of relevant documents. The ruling against Willis sets a legal precedent for future disputes over open records compliance.
This latest setback for the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office adds to growing scrutiny over how the Trump election interference case is being handled. With legal battles mounting and public trust at stake, the coming weeks will be critical in determining the future of the high-profile prosecution.
