Judicial Watch has secured a significant legal victory against Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. A Superior Court judge ruled that Willis must search for and provide records of her communications with Special Counsel Jack Smith and the House January 6 Committee. This ruling stems from a March 2024 lawsuit filed after Willis denied possessing records requested under Georgia’s Open Records Act.
Judge Robert McBurney issued a default judgment, citing Willis’s failure to respond to the lawsuit within required deadlines. This decision mandates that Willis search for and release any non-privileged emails related to federal authorities or the January 6 Committee within five business days. Privileged communications, however, remain protected and exempt from disclosure.
Judicial Watch alleges that Willis’s claim of having no relevant records was likely false. They cited correspondence from December 2021, in which Willis offered to assist and travel to Washington, D.C., as evidence of possible collaboration with the House January 6 Committee.
This case highlights transparency issues in government operations, particularly concerning politically charged investigations. Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton called the ruling “a critical step toward accountability” and expressed hope that the records would expose potential federal involvement in Willis’s investigations.
A hearing on attorney fees and costs is set for December 20. This ruling could set a precedent for handling similar transparency disputes while underscoring public interest in government accountability during politically sensitive cases.
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