Fani Willis Hit With Staggering Penalty for the Second Time

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been ordered to pay $54,000 in legal fees after a Superior Court judge ruled her office violated Georgia’s Open Records Act by deliberately stonewalling document requests related to the Trump RICO case.

Key Takeaways

Judge Rachel Krause found Willis’ office “openly hostile” in handling record requests from attorney Ashleigh Merchant, who represents Trump co-defendant Mike Roman.
The DA’s office must pay $54,000 in legal fees and provide all requested documents related to special prosecutor Nathan Wade within 30 days.
Documents sought included information about Willis’ controversial hiring of Wade, with whom she later admitted having a romantic relationship.
This marks the second time Willis’ office has been penalized for open records violations, following a previous $22,000 judgment in favor of Judicial Watch.
The ruling raises serious questions about transparency and integrity in the prosecution of the high-profile Trump case.

Court Rules Willis’ Office “Openly Hostile” to Records Requests

Superior Court Judge Rachel Krause issued a scathing ruling against Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, finding her office violated Georgia’s Open Records Act by deliberately obstructing attorney Ashleigh Merchant’s document requests. The court determined that Willis’ office, through Open Records custodian Dexter Bond, treated Merchant’s requests differently from others in what appeared to be a calculated effort to withhold information. Bond refused to communicate with Merchant by phone, contrary to his normal practice with other requestors, further demonstrating what the court called a “lack of good faith” in handling the records requests.

The judge’s order specifically noted that the actions of Willis’ office were “intentional” and “substantially groundless and vexatious.” This adversarial approach to transparency comes amid heightened scrutiny of Willis’ handling of the Trump case, which has been marred by allegations of impropriety regarding her relationship with former special prosecutor Nathan Wade. As a result of these violations, Willis’ office must now pay $54,000 in legal fees to Merchant and provide all requested documents within 30 days.

Documents Sought Reveal Controversial Relationship

The records at the center of this dispute relate directly to Nathan Wade, whom Willis hired as special prosecutor in the Trump case and with whom she later admitted having a romantic relationship. Merchant, representing Trump co-defendant Mike Roman, sought documents regarding Wade’s hiring, confidentiality agreements, and promotional materials as part of her broader effort to have Willis removed from the case. The relationship between Willis and Wade became problematic when it emerged that Wade had been paid over $600,000 for his work on the case while simultaneously being involved with Willis.

The fallout from this relationship has already had significant implications for the Trump case. Merchant’s efforts to expose the potential conflict of interest led to both Willis and Wade testifying in court about their relationship, ultimately resulting in Wade’s resignation from the case. The judge’s ruling in the open records case now adds another layer of scrutiny to Willis’ handling of the high-profile prosecution, raising questions about whether proper protocols and ethical standards are being followed.

Pattern of Transparency Issues Emerges

The $54,000 penalty is not the first time Willis’ office has been sanctioned for violating open records laws. Previously, her office was ordered to pay $22,000 to Judicial Watch for ignoring another open records request. This pattern suggests a concerning approach to transparency from a prosecutor’s office handling one of the most significant criminal cases against a president. Additionally, reports indicate Willis has refused to answer a public records lawsuit regarding her communications with Special Counsel Jack Smith, further contributing to questions about her office’s commitment to transparency.

The Trump case in Georgia now stands as the last remaining criminal case against the president after other cases were dismissed or delayed. The viability of this prosecution may now face additional challenges given the questions surrounding Willis’ conduct. While Willis’ office has not commented on the ruling, Merchant expressed satisfaction with the outcome, emphasizing the importance of accountability for public officials. The court has given Willis’ office 30 days to both pay the financial penalty and provide all the requested documents as part of the injunctive relief granted to Merchant.