Judge Issues Ruling Over Payment In Watchdog Groups Lawsuit
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis just got a lesson in accountability, courtesy of a Georgia court.
After months of deflecting and outright ignoring requests under the Georgia Open Records Act (ORA), Willis has been ordered to cough up over $21,500 to Judicial Watch, a watchdog group dedicated to exposing government misconduct. The fine comes after the court found her office guilty of blatantly flouting state law by withholding public records related to her investigation into former President Donald Trump.
This isn’t just about a monetary penalty; it’s about exposing the glaring lack of transparency in a case that reeks of political motivation. Judicial Watch's initial request sought communications between Willis, Special Counsel Jack Smith, and the January 6 Committee—records that any diligent search would have easily turned up. Yet, Willis's office falsely claimed that no such documents existed, a claim that crumbled under scrutiny when a court order forced her hand.
BREAKING: The Superior Court in Fulton County, GA, issued an order granting $21,578 “attorney’s fees and costs” in the open records lawsuit for communications Willis had with Special Counsel Jack Smith and the House January 6 Committee (1/3). https://t.co/qcVL9VTlfT
— Judicial Watch ⚖️ (@JudicialWatch) January 7, 2025
Among the uncovered evidence was a letter Willis sent to then-Committee Chair Bennie Thompson, requesting cooperation with her Trump investigation. Even more damning, news reports confirmed her office made multiple trips to Washington, D.C., to meet with January 6 Committee staffers. These facts directly contradicted her earlier denials, exposing either gross incompetence or deliberate obfuscation.
Judge Robert McBurney didn’t mince words in his rebuke. He made it clear that Georgia’s Open Records Act is mandatory, not optional, and that Willis’s behavior was indefensible. Despite being forced to admit the existence of responsive records, Willis continues to withhold them, citing exemptions like attorney-client privilege and ongoing investigation protections. Judicial Watch isn’t buying it and has filed for a court-supervised review to ensure no further stonewalling.
Fani Willis can use the cash she stuffs in her mattress. https://t.co/k6wegXw0RE
— Mike Davis (@mrddmia) January 7, 2025
This case shines a spotlight on a deeper issue: the use of taxpayer-funded offices for what appears to be political theater. Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton aptly pointed out that Willis’s actions suggest a troubling collusion with the January 6 Committee to target Trump. The refusal to release these records only fuels suspicions of partisan motives.
Willis’s credibility is now in tatters. Her office’s repeated dishonesty and lack of transparency undermine the integrity of the legal system she’s supposed to uphold. This fiasco also highlights the broader issue of selective enforcement and the politicization of justice, a trend that should concern every American.