Georgia Senate can force Fani Willis to testify over Trump case: judge

A Georgia judge has ruled that the state senate can subpoena Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis as part of their investigation into her and her office’s 2020 election case against Trump. This comes after Willis was disqualified from the case.

According to the Associated Press, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shukura Ingram wrote in a Monday order that Willis has until January 13 to submit her arguments over the subpoenas and if they seek confidential information, or if it is legally shielded.

Former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes, who is representing Willis in the case, wrote in an email to the outlet, "We believe the ruling is wrong and will appeal."

Earlier in December, Willis was disqualified from the Trump case by a Georgia appeals court, which ruled against her 2-1. The panel wrote that because of the relationship Willis had with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, "this is the rare case in which disqualification is mandated and no other remedy will suffice to restore public confidence in the integrity of these proceedings."

Willis was sent subpoenas from the Republican-led Senate Committee seeking to compel her to testify at its September meeting. The committee was formed earlier in 2024 to investigate accusations of "various forms of misconduct" by Willis.

Barnes had argued that the Senate committee did not have the power to subpoena her and that the subpoenas were overly broad and were seeking confidential, privileged, and private and personal information. Her challenge to the subpoena was pending in mid-September when she skipped the hearing.

The committee asked Ingram in October to force Willis to comply with the subpoenas, saying that Willis’ failure to do so had delayed its ability to finish its probe and provide recommendations.