Fulton County DA Fani Willis Faces Scrutiny After Dismissal of Trump Case

ATLANTA, Ga. — December 1, 2025 — Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is under increasing pressure following the dismissal of her case against former President Donald Trump, officials said. The case, which alleged a broad racketeering conspiracy related to the 2020 presidential election, collapsed amid controversy surrounding Willis’s conduct and ethical questions.

Willis, an elected Democrat, had secured an indictment against Trump and several associates, including former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, former Justice Department official Jeff Clark, and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. The indictment was based on allegations of election interference and conspiracy.

However, Willis faced disqualification from the case after it was revealed she had fundraised for a political opponent of Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who was among the targets of her investigation. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney removed Willis from the case, citing a conflict of interest. The case was then taken over by Pete Skandalakis, head of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, who dismissed the charges against Jones due to lack of criminal intent.

Further scrutiny arose over Willis’s hiring of Nathan Wade, a special prosecutor and her secret boyfriend, who had no prior felony trial experience. Wade, a former municipal court judge and private practice lawyer, billed Fulton County taxpayers at a rate of $250 per hour. Reports indicated he frequently billed full eight-hour days and even a 24-hour day on one occasion.

The dismissal of the case and the surrounding controversies have led to calls for Willis to face legal accountability, according to commentators and legal experts. The case’s collapse has drawn attention to the ethical standards and decision-making processes within the Fulton County District Attorney’s office.

Trump had vigorously contested the 2020 election results in multiple states and during the Congressional certification process but did not offer bribes or threats of violence. He encouraged his supporters to march peacefully to the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

The dismissal marks a significant setback for Willis, whose efforts to prosecute Trump were seen by some as politically motivated. The fallout continues to reverberate through Georgia’s legal and political landscape as officials assess the implications of the case’s failure.