Former President Donald Trump is requesting nearly $6.3 million from Fulton County, Georgia, following the dismissal of a case filed against him by District Attorney Fani Willis.
In 2023, Willis indicted Trump under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, alleging illegal actions in his efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election. The case was ultimately dismissed.
In December 2024, the Georgia Court of Appeals found that a lower court had erred by allowing Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade, who is also her romantic partner, to decide whether to step aside. The court cited a “significant appearance of impropriety” and ruled that Willis and her office should be “wholly disqualified.” Willis appealed the decision but lost.
Following this ruling, Trump filed a motion seeking reimbursement for attorneys’ fees under a Georgia law that provides for recovery when a prosecuting attorney is disqualified and the case is dismissed. The motion, filed by attorney Steve Sadow, spans three pages and includes approximately 200 pages of attachments detailing the costs.
The motion argues that the law “mandates such recovery when a prosecuting attorney is disqualified due to improper conduct and the case is dismissed.” It describes Willis’ investigation as “politically motivated” and “lengthy.”
“This dismissal paves the way for the award of reasonable attorney fees and litigation expenses,” the motion states. It notes that co-defendants can also seek reimbursement, and that Trump plans to adopt motions filed by his co-defendants in separate pleadings.
Willis has publicly opposed the attempt to recoup legal fees. Speaking to Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Mark Winne, she said, “We’re gonna fight with everything we legally can in that particular case. The law’s unconstitutional and just wrong in so many ways.”
A state law passed last year allows Trump and other former defendants in the election interference case to seek reimbursement for legal expenses after charges were dropped. Willis has indicated that she intends to challenge the law, which could result in the defense seeking a total of roughly $17 million in fees.
Willis criticized the law’s drafting, stating it appears poorly constructed and was written “with the intent of legislators trying to help their friends.” She also questioned the legitimacy of certain claimed expenses, such as hotel rooms over $1,000 per night and seafood lunches exceeding $300.
Attorney Chris Anulewicz, representing one of the former defendants, said the law was designed to address perceived wrongdoing by Willis’ office and that it covers expenses even in cases of conduct that only “appears” improper.
Last month, Willis defended her prosecution of Trump and his allies during a three-hour testimony before a Georgia Senate panel investigating her actions in the high-profile election interference case.
The ongoing legal debate highlights the intersection of state law, prosecutorial authority, and post-election litigation in Georgia, with significant financial implications for both former defendants and the state.