Atlanta District Attorney Fani Willis ordered to release communications with Jack Smith and January 6 Committee amid ongoing Trump election interference case.
At a Glance
- Judge rules Fani Willis violated open-records laws, must turn over communications within five days
- Judicial Watch filed lawsuit after being denied access to requested records
- Willis faces scrutiny over alleged affair with lawyer hired for Trump prosecution
- Case marks first instance of official found in default for not appearing in open records lawsuit
Court Orders Willis to Release Communications
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney has ordered Atlanta District Attorney Fani Willis to hand over all correspondence with Special Counsel Jack Smith and the House January 6 committee to the conservative group Judicial Watch. The ruling comes after Willis was found to have violated open-records laws by failing to respond to an August 2023 request from the organization.
The judge’s decision mandates Willis to deliver the requested records within five business days, marking a significant development in the ongoing investigation into alleged election tampering by former President Donald Trump during the 2020 election in Georgia.
BREAKING: A judge in Georgia just ordered Fani Willis to release all communications she had with Jack Smith and the January 6th Committee to plot the RICO case against President Trump.
The court also declared that she violated Georgia's Open Records Law.
"The Court also hereby… pic.twitter.com/MvpsMgKz7E
— George (@BehizyTweets) December 3, 2024
Judicial Watch’s Legal Victory
Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group, filed a lawsuit in March after being denied access to the communications between Willis’s office, the special counsel, and the House panel investigating the January 6 riots.
Judicial Watch’s lawsuit was filed under the Georgia Open Records Act after Willis and Fulton County claimed no records existed in response to the August 2023 request. The organization argues that this claim is likely false, citing a December 2021 letter from Willis to the January 6 Committee requesting assistance.
“Fani Willis and Fulton County seem to have provided false information about having no records of communications with Jack Smith and the Pelosi January 6 committee,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.
Ongoing Trump Investigation and Controversies
Willis is currently prosecuting the only remaining case against Trump, which is related to alleged election interference in Georgia. This case has gained increased attention as other federal cases against the former president have been dropped, and his sentencing in a New York state hush money case has been postponed.
Adding to the controversy surrounding the case, Willis has faced criticism for an alleged affair with lawyer Nathan Wade, whom she hired for the Trump prosecution. This personal conduct allegation has further complicated the legal proceedings and raised questions about potential conflicts of interest.
Next Steps and Implications
A court hearing is set for December 20 to address Judicial Watch’s request for attorney fees in the case. This order to release communications will likely have significant implications for the ongoing investigation into alleged election tampering by Trump.
The release of these communications could potentially shed light on the extent of collaboration between Willis’s office, Special Counsel Jack Smith, and the House January 6 committee. This transparency may either bolster the legitimacy of the investigation or raise further questions about its conduct and motivations. The coming weeks will likely bring more developments in this high-profile case that continues to captivate national attention.
