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A Georgia state court has ordered Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to conduct a new search for records in her criminal case against President Donald Trump, ruling that her office’s earlier efforts were inadequate.
The order, issued by a Fulton County Superior Court judge, stems from litigation brought by the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch, which has sought communications between Willis’ office, the House Jan. 6 committee and former special counsel Jack Smith’s team.
It marks another setback for Willis, whose office was previously ordered to pay approximately $22,000 in attorney’s fees to Judicial Watch after failing to fully respond to initial open-records requests. Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, said his group is investigating possible coordination between the district attorney and federal officials.
“The lawsuit is about any collusion and collaboration with Congress and the Justice Department, Jack Smith, and we haven’t seen the documents, but they show that there has been because their very existence shows that they were talking to them,” Fitton said.
He argued that any contact with the Jan. 6 committee or Smith’s office undermines the independence of Willis’ prosecution.
“Look, if Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff are running this investigation, you can be darn sure it’s not credible,” Fitton said, referencing the former Democratic House speaker and a leading member of the Jan. 6 panel.
The judge said Willis’ affidavit failed to explain whether records belonging to former special prosecutor Nathan Wade and chief investigator Michael Hill had been properly searched. Both played key roles in the Trump investigation.
The court noted “omissions” in Willis’ filings and said communications may have been overlooked. Willis now has 14 days to provide a more detailed report of her search protocols.
In March 2025, the court ordered Willis to produce 212 pages of records, which her office acknowledged only after multiple searches and an initial denial that they existed. The new ruling directs her to clarify how Wade’s and Hill’s devices and files are being reviewed.
Willis has come under heavy scrutiny from defense attorneys and Georgia lawmakers over her handling of the case. She charged Trump and 18 others in August 2023 with racketeering and other offenses related to the 2020 election. The case was later narrowed through plea deals and dismissals.
Last month, the Georgia Court of Appeals disqualified Willis from prosecuting Trump, citing her romantic relationship with Wade as a conflict of interest. The case has since been placed on hold indefinitely.
