ATLANTA, GA — December 11, 2024 — In a significant legal development, Fulton County Superior Court has found District Attorney Fani Willis in default for failing to comply with an open records lawsuit. The case, centered around Willis's refusal to disclose communications with Special Counsel Jack Smith and the January 6 Committee, has now escalated with the court's decision.
The lawsuit, filed by the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch, sought to uncover any potential coordination between Willis's office and federal entities in the investigation into former President Donald Trump. Willis's non-response to the lawsuit led to the court granting Judicial Watch's motion for a default judgment, ordering Willis to produce the requested records within five business days.
This ruling comes after Willis allegedly denied having any responsive records to an August 2023 open records request, a claim Judicial Watch argued was likely false. The court's decision to find Willis in default is unprecedented, according to Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton, marking the first time in the organization's 30-year history that a government official has been found in default for not responding to an open records lawsuit.
The implications of this ruling are significant. Not only has Willis been ordered to hand over the documents, but she must also cover Judicial Watch's attorney fees. The court expects that the production will include all correspondence identified in the complaint, or Willis must provide an explanation for why such correspondence does not exist or why it is being withheld.
Public and online discourse has been vocal, with some X users expressing strong sentiments against Willis, calling for further accountability, including potential disbarment. The sentiment reflects broader concerns about transparency and the integrity of legal proceedings involving high-profile political figures.
Willis's office has yet to comment on the lawsuit, and the situation continues to unfold. This legal setback adds another layer of scrutiny to Willis's tenure, especially in light of her involvement in the Georgia election interference case against former President Donald Trump.
The court has scheduled a hearing on Judicial Watch's attorneys' fees for December 20, 2024, signaling that this legal battle might not be over yet.
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