Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been ordered to pay over $54,000 in attorneys’ fees after a judge determined her office violated Georgia’s Open Records Act during the prosecution of former President Donald Trump and his allies for alleged 2020 election interference.New York Post+12AP News+12ABC News+12
The ruling, issued by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Rachel Krause in March 2025, stemmed from a lawsuit filed by attorney Ashleigh Merchant, who represents Michael Roman, a former Trump campaign staffer and co-defendant in the case. Merchant alleged that Willis’s office failed to provide public records requested under the state’s open records law. Judge Krause found that the office’s noncompliance was “intentional, not done in good faith, and were substantially groundless and vexatious,” ordering the DA’s office to pay $54,103.23 in attorneys’ fees and to produce the requested documents within 30 days. New York Post+9ABC News+9https://www.walb.com+9WPLG+3Georgia Public Broadcasting+3Fox News+3Fox News+7https://www.walb.com+7WPLG+7
Among the records sought were documents related to media monitoring contracts initiated by Willis’s office prior to the indictment of Trump and others, as well as information about internal confidentiality agreements and the hiring of special prosecutor Nathan Wade. Merchant’s inquiries into Wade’s appointment uncovered a romantic relationship between him and Willis, leading to allegations of impropriety. This relationship became a focal point in the legal proceedings, ultimately resulting in the Georgia Court of Appeals disqualifying Willis and her office from prosecuting the election interference case due to an “appearance of impropriety.” NPR+7WTOP News+7Georgia Public Broadcasting+7Fox News+1Reuters+1Fox News+8WJXT+8WTOP News+8
The disqualification and the recent open records violation ruling have significantly impacted the prosecution of the case against Trump and his co-defendants. While four individuals have pleaded guilty, Trump and the remaining defendants maintain their innocence. The case’s future remains uncertain, especially considering Trump’s re-election and the legal challenges facing the prosecution. Georgia Public Broadcasting+8FOX 5 Atlanta+8WTOP News+8NPR+2Georgia Public Broadcasting+2Reuters+2wsj.com
Willis’s office has indicated plans to appeal the open records ruling. However, the cumulative effect of these legal setbacks has cast doubt on the viability of the case moving forward. The situation underscores the importance of transparency and adherence to legal protocols, particularly in high-profile cases involving public officials and former presidents.Georgia Public Broadcasting+8WJXT+8WPLG+8
As the legal proceedings continue, the implications of these developments will be closely watched, not only for their impact on the individuals involved but also for their broader significance in the context of legal accountability and the rule of law.
