Judge Allows Trump, Co-Defendants To Pursue Millions In Fani Willis Legal Fees new
ATLANTA, GA — The Fulton County District Attorney’s office is facing a potential fiscal catastrophe as the legal remnants of the 2023 RICO indictment against Donald Trump turn into a massive liability. Judge Scott McAfee ruled on Monday that Willis has no legal standing to intervene in or block the recovery of attorney fees, as she remains "wholly disqualified" from the proceedings.
The decision allows a coalition of "patriots and innocent people"—as described by the President—to utilize a 2025 Georgia statute specifically designed to allow defendants to recover costs when a prosecutor is disqualified and the case is subsequently dismissed.
The $17 Million Price Tag
The litigation now moves into an assessment phase to determine the "reasonableness" of the requested fees. The current breakdown of the major claims includes:
Donald Trump: Seeking $6.2 million in personal attorney fees.
Co-Defendants: Collectively seeking over $10 million in additional costs.
Fulton County Intervention: While Willis was blocked from participating, Judge McAfee granted Fulton County itself permission to intervene, as the county’s taxpayers will ultimately bear the burden of any court-ordered payouts.
The Path to Dismissal
The ruling is the final blow in a series of legal defeats for Willis, which began with the exposure of her romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade.
December 2024: The Georgia Court of Appeals ruled that the "significant appearance of impropriety" required the total disqualification of Willis and her entire office.
September 2025: The Supreme Court of Georgia declined to review her removal, leading to the appointment of a temporary DA and the eventual dismissal of all charges.
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The "Jail" Rhetoric: President Trump has remained vocal about the case, recently stating that Willis "should be put in jail" for the damage he claims she inflicted on his co-defendants through a "politicized" prosecution.
Constitutional Challenges Denied
In her motion to intervene, Willis argued that the 2025 reimbursement law was unconstitutional and that her removal was not the primary catalyst for the case’s dismissal. Judge McAfee declined to pause the process, signaling that the law is currently in full effect. Trump’s lead attorney, Steve Sadow, praised the ruling on X, noting that the judge properly excluded Willis from the effort to hold her office financially accountable for what the defense has characterized as a "lawless" pursuit of the President.
