Trump Seeks $6.26M From Fulton County After Election Case Dismissal, Citing Disqualified DA

Former President Donald Trump has filed a motion seeking $6,261,613.08 in attorney fees and costs from the Fulton County District Attorney’s office after the election-interference prosecution against him and others was dismissed.

Legal Basis: The request relies on a 2023 Georgia statute that allows defendants to recover “all reasonable attorney's fees and costs incurred” when a prosecutor is disqualified for improper conduct and the case is later dismissed. Under the law, a judge must evaluate any fee petition and, if awarded, payments come from the prosecutor’s office budget.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis leaves the Georgia State Capitol after questioning from a Georgia State Senate panel about her prosecution of President Donald Trump on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Why Willis Was Removed: Courts removed Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and her office from the prosecution based on an “appearance of impropriety” stemming from her romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor she appointed to lead the investigation. The relationship was disclosed publicly in January 2024, triggering hearings and litigation over whether Willis should remain on the case.

Case Background: Willis secured an indictment in August 2023 under Georgia’s anti-racketeering law, charging Trump and 18 others with participating in a broad scheme to overturn his narrow 2020 loss in Georgia. The indictment referenced actions including Trump’s recorded phone call urging Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find” enough votes to change the outcome. Four co-defendants later pleaded guilty.

President Donald Trump speaks to House Republican lawmakers during their annual policy retreat, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Court Proceedings and Dismissal: After litigation over Willis’ conduct, appellate judges found an appearance of impropriety and removed her from the prosecution. A successor prosecutor appointed by the nonpartisan Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council — the agency’s executive director, Pete Skandalakis — later dismissed the case.

Arguments Over Fee Claims: Trump’s lead Georgia attorney, Steve Sadow, said the motion was filed “in accordance with Georgia law” and called the original prosecution “politically motivated, and now rightfully dismissed.” Willis’ office has asked to be heard on fee claims and argues the statute raises serious constitutional issues, saying it would improperly impose financial liability on a constitutionally elected official and could violate due process by retroactively creating a novel fee-shifting scheme that burdens county taxpayers.

Next Steps: The judge overseeing the dismissed case will review Trump’s motion and other claims for fees and determine whether to award reimbursement and, if so, the amount to be paid from the district attorney’s office budget. The dispute is likely to prompt further legal and political debate over the new Georgia statute and accountability for prosecutors’ conduct.

Key Quote: "In accordance with Georgia law, President Trump has moved the Court to award reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred in his defense of the politically motivated, and now rightfully dismissed, case brought by disqualified DA Fani Willis," said Steve Sadow, Trump’s lead Georgia attorney.