Last Updated on 3 weeks by Alex Orion
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who previously led the 2020 Georgia election case against President Donald Trump before being removed from it, has been ordered to pay more than $54,000 for failing to comply with Georgia’s open records laws.
According to Fox News Fulton County Superior Court Judge Rachel Krause on Friday determined that Willis must pay $54,264 in legal fees and litigation expenses. The penalty stems from her office’s refusal to provide documents requested by Ashleigh Merchant, the attorney who challenged Willis’ involvement in prosecuting Trump.
Judge Krause stated that Willis’ office “intentionally” withheld records concerning the hiring of Nathan Wade, the former special assistant district attorney at the center of the controversy. Earlier this year, a judge ruled that either Wade or Willis had to step aside from the case, ultimately leading to Wade’s resignation.
The court order also criticized the conduct of Dexter Bond, the Open Records custodian for the DA’s office, stating that he displayed hostility toward Merchant and handled her requests differently compared to others. Testimony revealed that Bond, who usually contacted requesters for clarification, refused to speak with Merchant over the phone. The judge noted that this approach reflected a “lack of good faith” in fulfilling legal obligations.