Georgia Court Orders More Record Searches in Trump Case
A Georgia court has directed Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to revisit her search for records tied to a criminal case involving former President Donald Trump, concluding that her initial efforts were insufficient.
This new directive from a Fulton County Superior Court judge follows a lengthy campaign by the conservative group Judicial Watch. They have sought access to correspondence between Willis’s office and the January 6th Select Committee, as well as communications with former Special Counsel Jack Smith.
It’s another setback for Willis, who previously faced complications when a judge ordered Judicial Watch to cover nearly $22,000 in legal fees back in January. The court had found it couldn’t completely fulfill an earlier records request from the watchdog group.
Court Actions on Willis and Trump Case
Judicial Watch’s president, Tom Fitton, commented on their ongoing examination of Willis’s communications. “The lawsuit involves allegations of collusion between Congress and the Justice Department, particularly involving Jack Smith,” he noted. Notably, Fitton suggested that the existence of these communications indicates a lack of independence in Willis’s work and raises questions about the nature of her indictment against Trump, implying it was politically motivated.
Fitton also expressed skepticism about the reliability of the investigation, pointing out that if high-profile Democrats like Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff are involved, its credibility is questionable.
Judge’s Concerns Over Search Adequacy
The Superior Court judge indicated that Willis’s affidavit did not adequately cover the search for a significant device linked to former Fulton County Special Attorney Nathan Wade and Chief Investigator Michael Hill. The court stressed that crucial communications may have been missed. Willis has 14 days to provide a detailed report on her search process.
In March 2025, the same court had instructed Willis to compile a lengthy 212-page record that was only recently discovered after her office initially denied its existence. The current order, however, mandates clarification regarding the search methods for records involving Hill and Wade.
Willis is under considerable pressure from both defense attorneys and state legislators concerning her investigation into Trump’s conduct during the 2020 election.
In August 2023, Willis, alongside 18 co-defendants, was charged with various offenses related to the 2020 election, but the case was notably weakened by plea agreements. Eventually, the Georgia Court of Appeals disqualified Willis from the case, citing a conflict of interest arising from a personal relationship with Wade. The case has been put on hold indefinitely following the court’s ruling.
