A Georgia judge has ruled that Republican lawmakers have the clear authority to subpoena Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis about her investigation into Donald Trump for allegedly trying to interfere in the 2020 presidential election.
Fulton County Superior Judge Shukura Ingram ordered Willis to respond to subpoenas by January 13, 2025. The subpoenas were issued by the Georgia State Senate’s Special Committee on Investigations, which is looking into potential misconduct in Willis’ prosecution of Trump. The committee had requested documents and testimony about her prosecution and her relationship with Nathan Wade, a special prosecutor she appointed for the case.
Willis had objected to the subpoenas, arguing they were invalid because the committee issued them after the legislature’s regular session ended and because they sought information unrelated to the legislature’s work. She also argued that the subpoenas violated the state’s separation of powers. However, Judge Ingram ruled that the General Assembly has the constitutional power to investigate and issue subpoenas. She rejected Willis’ arguments, saying the Senate was authorized to issue the subpoenas.
Willis, through former Georgia Governor Roy Barnes, plans to appeal the decision, calling the ruling incorrect. This ruling follows a string of legal setbacks for Willis, including being removed from the Trump case by the Georgia Court of Appeals last week. The court ruled that her relationship with Wade created the appearance of impropriety and that she should be disqualified from the case.
The case involves allegations that Trump and others tried to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia, including pressuring officials to “find” votes for him. When the relationship between Willis and Wade was revealed, some defendants in the case asked to have Willis and Wade removed due to concerns about bias. Initially, a judge ordered that either Wade or Willis be removed, but not both. The appeals court later ruled that both needed to be removed due to the appearance of impropriety, and Willis’ office was disqualified from handling the case. Willis is appealing that decision as well.