Fani Willis ordered to pay $54K for violating open records laws in Trump case
Published March 17, 2025 1:46pm
Judge Rachel Krause ruled that Willis' office was 'hostile' and 'intentionally' violated Georgia's open records laws
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been ordered to pay more than $54,000 for violating the state’s open records laws in relation to the prosecution of President Donald Trump.
The county’s Superior Court Judge Rachel Krause formalized her ruling Friday and ordered Willis to pay $54,264 in attorneys' fees and litigation costs after "intentionally" failing to provide records requested by Ashleigh Merchant, the attorney who filed the motion to disqualify Willis from prosecuting Trump on charges of allegedly interfering with the 2020 presidential election.
Krause stated that Willis’ office failed to provide documents related to the employment of Nathan Wade, the former special assistant district attorney forced to resign from the Trump case due to his romantic relationship with Willis.
Merchant believed that Willis and Wade may have financially benefited from Wade’s appointment as the special prosecutor in the case.
"Defendants — through the Open Records custodian, Dexter Bond — were openly hostile to counsel for Plaintiff, Ms. Merchant, and testified that Ms. Merchant's requests were handled differently than other requests," the court order said.
Bond, who testified that his usual practice was to call a requestor to receive additional information to fulfill requests, indicated that he refused to communicate with Merchant by telephone, the court order stated.
"While there is no requirement under the ORA for Mr. Bond to call any requestor about a particular request, Mr. Bond's handling of Ms. Merchant's requests in this manner indicates a lack of good faith," the order said. "Defendants’ failures were intentional, not done in good faith, and were substantially groundless and vexatious."
Merchant, who reacted to the ruling in a post on X Friday, said she was "proud that we have judges willing to hold people in power accountable when they ignore the law!!!!"
Fox News Digital reached out to Merchant and Willis’ office for additional statements but did not immediately receive a response.
The DA’s office has 30 days from the court’s order to pay the penalty. The plaintiff also received injunctive relief directing Willis to finally provide the requested documents.
She probably has that in an envelope in her desk drawer as payment for a favor in getting someone off the hook. Or it could be from some unknown voting machine maker for past services.
I'm sure she has that in cash at home. It's a black thing. Her father taught her that.
Haha and a Lol
https://youtu.be/0q6yphdZhUA?t=107
She can’t show a drivers license but she has an I.D., I’m guessing 🙄
No, cause that's racist.
Came here to say that. I think her dad was a Black Panther….pretty sure.
Now I ain't she's a vote rigger, but fatty only make my lead bigger.
Bingo! 😹
only 54 k she has hustled way more than that...
Oh that’s gotta feel good for our President! More Vindication! 😁
Fani Willis ordered to pay $54K for violating open records laws in Trump case
Published March 17, 2025 1:46pm
Judge Rachel Krause ruled that Willis' office was 'hostile' and 'intentionally' violated Georgia's open records laws
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been ordered to pay more than $54,000 for violating the state’s open records laws in relation to the prosecution of President Donald Trump.
The county’s Superior Court Judge Rachel Krause formalized her ruling Friday and ordered Willis to pay $54,264 in attorneys' fees and litigation costs after "intentionally" failing to provide records requested by Ashleigh Merchant, the attorney who filed the motion to disqualify Willis from prosecuting Trump on charges of allegedly interfering with the 2020 presidential election.
Krause stated that Willis’ office failed to provide documents related to the employment of Nathan Wade, the former special assistant district attorney forced to resign from the Trump case due to his romantic relationship with Willis.
Merchant believed that Willis and Wade may have financially benefited from Wade’s appointment as the special prosecutor in the case.
"Defendants — through the Open Records custodian, Dexter Bond — were openly hostile to counsel for Plaintiff, Ms. Merchant, and testified that Ms. Merchant's requests were handled differently than other requests," the court order said.
Bond, who testified that his usual practice was to call a requestor to receive additional information to fulfill requests, indicated that he refused to communicate with Merchant by telephone, the court order stated.
"While there is no requirement under the ORA for Mr. Bond to call any requestor about a particular request, Mr. Bond's handling of Ms. Merchant's requests in this manner indicates a lack of good faith," the order said. "Defendants’ failures were intentional, not done in good faith, and were substantially groundless and vexatious."
Merchant, who reacted to the ruling in a post on X Friday, said she was "proud that we have judges willing to hold people in power accountable when they ignore the law!!!!"
Fox News Digital reached out to Merchant and Willis’ office for additional statements but did not immediately receive a response.
The DA’s office has 30 days from the court’s order to pay the penalty. The plaintiff also received injunctive relief directing Willis to finally provide the requested documents.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/fani-willis-ordered-pay-54k-violating-open-records-laws-trump-case
taxpayers on the hook,
"The DA’s office has 30 days from the court’s order to pay the penalty. "
kek
Fun win.
Merchant believed that Willis and Wade may have financially benefited from Wade’s appointment as the special prosecutor in the case.
*"Did" fix it for you.
52,264 dollars of taxpayer monies!
Oh Fani May you did not get one of those sweet Auto Pen Pardons did you?
Hey, Ho, haha and heehee.
Will it all be in cash
What about jail time?
Yay
Always good to see Fani gettin' spanked.
As long as it comes out of her own pocket, okay. I still feel she got off pretty easy.
She needs to be blasted in her fanny by the working end of a giant trebuchet
What about the billions?
She probably has that in an envelope in her desk drawer as payment for a favor in getting someone off the hook. Or it could be from some unknown voting machine maker for past services.
A fine, and not disbarment or arrest?
I hope she has legal bills to match. kek