A Georgia judge has granted state lawmakers the ability to subpoena Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis as part of an investigation into her conduct during the prosecution of former President Donald Trump. On December 23, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shukura Ingram ruled that Willis must provide a list of any claimed privileges or objections to the subpoenas by January 13.
Willis, who is facing scrutiny over her handling of the high-profile case, plans to appeal the ruling. Her attorney, former Georgia Governor Roy Barnes, expressed disagreement with the decision, labeling it as incorrect and signaling an intent to challenge it in court.
This ruling follows a significant court decision earlier in the month, in which an appeals court removed Willis from overseeing the Georgia election interference case involving Trump. The court pointed to the “appearance of impropriety” and noted concerns over Willis’ personal relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade. The panel stated that her disqualification was necessary to restore public trust in the fairness of the legal process. President Trump responded to the decision by denouncing the investigation as politically motivated, accusing the Biden administration of targeting him for his political beliefs.
Earlier this year, in August, a Republican-led Georgia Senate committee issued subpoenas to compel Willis to testify about her role in the investigation into Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results. However, Willis did not appear for the hearing scheduled in September, frustrating lawmakers seeking answers.
Willis’ legal team argued that the subpoenas were excessively broad and lacked a valid legislative purpose. They also contested the Senate committee’s authority to force her testimony. With the Georgia legislative session set to end on January 13, Republican State Senator Greg Dolezal has said he intends to re-establish the committee when lawmakers reconvene in 2025.
“The law is clear, and the judge’s ruling confirms that,” Dolezal stated. “We look forward to having District Attorney Willis comply with the subpoena and provide the documents and testimony needed to ensure accountability.”