Staff Reports
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has faced significant legal setbacks in recent months, including a court order to pay over in penalties for violating Georgia’s Open Records Act. This ruling came after her office failed to comply with document requests from lawyers representing former Trump campaign staffer Michael Roman, a co-defendant in the Georgia election interference case. The judge found Willis’ office acted with “intentional” disregard for transparency laws, treating the requests with “open hostility” compared to other public records inquiries.
This follows her removal from the Trump election case in December 2024 after a Georgia appeals court ruled her romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade created an “appearance of impropriety” that undermined public trust. While the indictment against Trump and others remains intact, the case’s future now depends on whether a new prosecutor is appointed.
The latest fines and document turnover order stem from Willis’ alleged efforts to suppress records about media-tracking contracts and internal office agreements. Her office plans to appeal the ruling, calling it politically motivated. Despite claims of a “Trump curse” in the query, no jail time has been ordered for Willis—only financial penalties and procedural consequences. These developments further complicate her politically charged legal battles as Trump’s return to power looms.
