FACT CHECK: No, Fani Willis And Alvin Bragg Have Not Been Disbarred
A video shared on Facebook claims Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg have purportedly been disbarred. Verdict: False Both district attorneys are able to practice law, according to the State Bar of Georgia and the New York Unified Court System’s websites, respectively. There is no evidence that either […]
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Fani Willis ordered to pay $22K for ignoring records request and hiding communications
Last week, a Georgia court ordered Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to pay Judicial Watch nearly $22,000, finding that she ignored the organization's open records request and hid communications.
In August 2023, Judicial Watch submitted an Open Records Act request for communications Willis' office had with the Department of Justice's special counsel Jack Smith's office and the House committee investigating the January 6, 2021, protest at the United States Capitol.
'The District Attorney's Office flatly ignored Plaintiff's original ORA request, conducting no search and simply (and falsely) informing the County's Open Records Custodian that no responsive records existed.'
The DA's office claimed it did "not have the responsive records."
"This response was perplexing and eventually suspicious to [Judicial Watch], given that Plaintiff subsequently uncovered through own effort at least one document that should have been in the District Attorney's Office's possession that was patently responsive to the request," Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney wrote.
In March 2024, Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit against Willis, arguing that she had "falsely denied" having any related communications to its open records request.
The judge found that Willis' office repeatedly denied the existence of such records. However, in a later memo, her office "announced that there still were no records responsive to one set of Plaintiff's requests (communications with former Special Counsel Jack Smith) but that there were in fact records responsive to Plaintiff's second set of requests (communications with the United States House January 6th Committee) -- but those were exempt from disclosure."
McBurney stated that an open records request "is not hortatory; it is mandatory."
"Non-compliance has consequences," he wrote.
"Per her Records Custodian's own admission, the District Attorney's Office flatly ignored Plaintiff's original ORA request, conducting no search and simply (and falsely) informing the County's Open Records Custodian that no responsive records existed," McBurney continued. "We know now that that is simply incorrect: once pressed by a Court order, Defendant managed to identify responsive records, but has categorized them as exempt."
McBurney called the "late revelation" of the allegedly exempt communications "a patent violation" of Judicial Watch's open records request.
The judge ordered Willis to pay the organization's $21,578 in legal fees within two weeks.
Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton responded to the McBurney's decision.
"Fani Willis flouted the law, and the court is right to slam her and require, at a minimum, the payment of nearly $22,000 to Judicial Watch," Fitton said. "But in the end, Judicial Watch wants the full truth on what she was hiding – her office's political collusion with the Pelosi January 6 committee to 'get Trump.'"
The DA's office did not respond to a request for comment from the New York Post.
Willis and her office have faced several misconduct allegations over the past year.
In December, Willis was disqualified from the Georgia case against President-elect Donald Trump due to her affair with special prosecutor Nathan Wade.
Willis also faced an investigation into her office's alleged misuse of federal grants worth $488,000. According to a staff whistleblower, the funds, which were earmarked for establishing a youth gang prevention center, were spent on ineligible and unrelated expenses.
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Georgia AG pushes state Supreme Court to uphold Fani Willis' removal from Trump case
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr (R) urged the state Supreme Court on Monday to uphold a court of appeals decision to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the case against President-elect Donald Trump.
The state-level indictment accused Trump of attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
'Our Attorney General was missing in action.'
Willis was disqualified after she was caught having an affair with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, whom she hired onto the case.
While Wade later stepped down, the appeals court contended that his doing so did not settle the "appearance of impropriety."
"After carefully considering the trial court's findings in its order, we conclude that it erred by failing to disqualify DA Willis and her office," the appeals court ruled.
Willis has pledged to appeal the decision.
On Monday, Carr stated, "The Georgia Court of Appeals has ruled that the Fulton County DA created her own conflict and rightfully removed her from the case against President-elect Trump."
"'Lawfare' has become far too common in American politics, and it must end," he continued. "As such, I would encourage the Georgia Supreme Court to not take her appeal."
"It's our hope that the DA will now focus taxpayer resources on the successful prosecution of violent criminals in Fulton County," Carr added.
Willis responded to Carr's statement, claiming he was a "witness in the case he is trying to influence," the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
She further accused Carr, who is running for governor, of playing politics.
"If Mr. Carr cannot separate his ambition to become Governor from his duties as Attorney General," Willis said, "he should resign and focus on being a full-time candidate rather than serving as a constitutional officer sworn to uphold the Constitutions and laws of the United States and Georgia."
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (R) also responded to Carr's statement, accusing him of being silent on the Georgia case against Trump for too long.
Jones wrote in a post on X, "I have said for years that Fani Willis orchestrated a political charade against President Trump. When he had opportunities to lead, our Attorney General was missing in action. Where he failed, the Georgia Senate won't. We look forward to holding her accountable at a future hearing."
Willis may be forced to testify before the state Senate for her alleged misconduct in the case.
Last week, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shukura Ingram filed an order ruling that the state Senate can subpoena Willis.
Willis' lawyer, former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes (D), called Ingram's decision "wrong" and noted their plans to appeal.
Defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant, who represented Trump co-defendant Mike Roman and brought the initial motion to recuse Willis from the case, believes that Trump's Department of Justice will open an investigation into Willis' conduct.
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Fani Willis may have to testify before Georgia Senate for alleged misconduct in Trump case
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis may still have to answer for her alleged misconduct in the Georgia case against President-elect Donald Trump.
Last week, Willis was disqualified from the case that accused Trump of attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election. The court decided to remove Willis from the case, citing an "appearance of impropriety" due to her affair with special prosecutor Nathan Wade.
'We believe the ruling is wrong and will appeal.'
Wade, hired by Willis, stepped down from the case after the affair was exposed.
"After carefully considering the trial court's findings in its order, we conclude that it erred by failing to disqualify DA Willis and her office," the appeals court determined.
Willis intends to appeal the court's decision.
In August, a Republican-led Georgia Senate committee subpoenaed Willis, seeking her testimony as part of its investigation into her alleged misconduct.
However, Willis' attorney, former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes (D), contended that the Senate committee lacked the authority to compel her testimony. He further claimed that the subpoenas were overly broad and unrelated to legislative needs.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shukura Ingram filed an order Monday ruling that the state Senate can subpoena Willis. Additionally, Willis was instructed that if she would like to submit arguments against the subpoenas, she must wait to do so until January 13.
Barnes told the Associated Press, "We believe the ruling is wrong and will appeal."
Georgia's current legislative term is slated to end on January 13, effectively terminating the Senate committee currently investigating Willis. However, Sen. Greg Dolezal (R) stated he will file legislation to reopen the committee for the 2025 session.
"We'll see you soon, Madam D.A.," Dolezal wrote in a post on X.
Georgia Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones (R) stated, "The Senate will not back down in its fight for accountability of taxpayer dollars."
"The Senate will continue to fight for transparency and accountability," Jones continued. "DA Willis's refusal to come before the committee is unacceptable and addressing these issues to require accountability will be a priority for the Senate."
State Senator Bill Cowsert (R) said, “Our hearings have revealed serious prosecutorial misconduct, and legislative remedies are needed. I look forward to finishing our investigation and passing legislation that restores confidence in the criminal justice system.”
Defense attorney Ashleigh Merchant, who represented Trump co-defendant Mike Roman and brought the initial motion to recuse Willis, predicted that Willis will likely face a Department of Justice investigation for her actions.
"I would be shocked if she wasn't investigated by the new Justice Department," Merchant told the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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