Fulton County DA Ordered to Pay Over $54,000 and Release Documents

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is facing repercussions as a judge has mandated her to pay upwards of $54,000 in attorney fees and to release documents previously withheld, in breach of Georgia’s Open Records Act.

The documents in question are linked to the prosecution efforts against former President Donald Trump. Attorney Ashleigh Merchant, who pursued the open records request, expressed frustration over being obstructed by Willis’ office as of September 2023, as reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Merchant’s request encompassed approximately twelve different sets of records from the DA’s office. These included non-disclosure agreements that employees were mandated to sign, a list of attorneys Willis has hired since her tenure began, and receipts related to a contract with a New York-based media monitoring service.

Judicial Ruling Highlights Transparency Issues

The decision, delivered by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Rachel Krause, represents a significant victory for advocates of public record transparency. Judge Krause found that the DA’s office had intentionally and unjustifiably withheld public documents, acting in bad faith and in a vexatious manner.

1776 Coalition Sponsored George Soros’ Goons came to my District George Soros sent his goons into my district to hold a fake townhall meeting. This is Rep. Jack Bergman. They didn’t invite me, but they used an empty chair as a prop while they attacked my support for DOGE and America First policies. If you’re tired of Soros-funded leftists attempting to sabotage America’s future, then please help me keep up the fight in Congress.

The court’s findings highlighted that the DA’s office must compensate for attorney fees and litigation expenses to Merchant, her husband John, and their paralegal, who all contributed to the legal effort to secure the records.

Additionally, the court noted that Dexter Bond, the Open Records Custodian, exhibited open hostility towards Merchant and admitted to treating her requests differently than others. Despite there being no requirement under the Open Records Act (ORA) for Bond to initiate contact with a requestor, his refusal to communicate with Merchant by phone was seen as indicative of bad faith.

The court order explicitly stated, “Defendants’ failures were intentional, not done in good faith, and were substantially groundless and vexatious.”

Broader Implications of the Case

This case sheds light on the alleged concealment of an affair Willis had with another prosecutor involved in Trump’s case, raising serious questions about the integrity of her office. The judge’s decision to rule in favor of Merchant may prompt further discussions on whether Willis should remain in her position.