Judge Rachel Krause ruled that Willis' office was 'hostile' and 'intentionally' violated Georgia's open records laws
Fani Willis was 'terrified' because her case against Trump was 'weak,' attorney says
Attorney Ashleigh Merchant, who led the effort to oust Fani Willis, joined 'Fox & Friends' to discuss her reaction to the disqualification as the president-elect calls the case 'dead.'
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.
GEORGIA APPEALS COURT DISQUALIFIES DA FANI WILLIS AND HER TEAM FROM TRUMP ELECTION INTERFERENCE CASE
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis testifies during a hearing at the Fulton County Courthouse on Feb. 15, 2024 in Atlanta. (Alyssa Pointer-Pool/Getty Images)
"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.
TRUMP CHEERS DISQUALIFICATION OF 'CORRUPT' FANI WILLIS, SAYS CASE IS 'ENTIRELY DEAD'
Attorney Ashleigh Merchant is seen at the Fulton County Courthouse on Feb. 16, 2024 in Atlanta. (Alyssa Pointer)
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."
GEORGIA LAWMAKERS CAN SUBPOENA FANI WILLIS FOR INFORMATION RELATED TO TRUMP CASE, COURT RULES
Fulton County Deputy District Attorney Dexter Bond testified in Fulton County Superior Court on Sept. 19, 2024. (Fox 5 Atlanta)
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.
Bonny Chu is a Digital Production Assistant at Fox News Digital.
