Fulton County taxpayers could pay Trump’s legal fees after election interference case dismissed

Fulton County residents may be responsible for a sizable legal tab after the election interference case against former President Donald Trump and several co-defendants was thrown out.

According to WSB-TV, the projected cost to taxpayers could reach between $10 million and $20 million. Fulton County Commission Chair Robb Pitts told the station the county is bracing for potentially steep reimbursements tied to a state law enacted earlier this year.

As GPB has reported, that law allows defendants to seek repayment of their attorney’s fees when a prosecutor is removed for misconduct and the charges are dismissed. That scenario applies to the now-dropped 2020 election case originally brought by District Attorney Fani Willis.

Willis was disqualified after a judge determined she had an improper relationship with the special prosecutor she appointed, Nathan Wade. The Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia later assumed control of the case, and its executive director, Peter Skandalakis, moved to dismiss the indictment, WSB-TV reported.

Defense teams now have 45 days to send their fee petitions to Judge Robert McAfee, who will decide what amount, if any, the county must pay. One attorney told WSB-TV his client intends to seek reimbursement, calling the prolonged legal fight financially draining.

The broader implications of the law have raised questions among legal observers. GPB interviewed Georgia State University political science professor Tammy Greer, who said the reimbursement requirement highlights deeper issues within the justice system.

“The glaring part that goes through my mind is what does this say about how we view the criminal justice system? Who the criminal justice system is intended to provide consequences to?” Greer said.

The final cost to taxpayers will depend on the judge’s review of the petitions, but county leaders say the financial burden could be significant.