Georgia D.A. declines to share Jack Smith, Jan. 6 docs, in blow to conservatives

The Fulton County District Attorney’s Office has recently declined to release any new communications between District Attorney Fani Willis and outgoing special counsel Jack Smith. This decision was made in response to a court filing that stated the documents either do not exist or are exempt from disclosure under Georgia law.

Judicial Watch, a conservative legal group, had filed a lawsuit against Willis in March after her office claimed to have no records of communication between Willis and Smith, or between Willis and the House January 6th Committee. Both Smith and the House Select Committee were investigating alleged efforts by President-elect Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which drew the attention of conservative activists.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney ordered Willis to produce any records of communication with Smith or the House Select Committee within five business days. Willis argued that she was not properly served by Judicial Watch, but the Fulton County Open Records Department disagreed. They conducted a thorough search and found no records of communication between Willis and Smith. Additionally, any records between Willis and the House Select Committee were deemed legally exempt from disclosure under Georgia law.

Willis has faced scrutiny from Republican lawmakers and conservative groups for her actions. Members of the House Judiciary Committee have accused Willis of asking the House Select Committee to share information with her office, leading to further investigation into these communications. Trump and 18 others pleaded not guilty to charges brought by Willis’s office last year, accusing them of attempting to overturn the election results. The charges against Trump in Georgia are currently on hold as his attorneys seek to have Willis disqualified from the case.

Meanwhile, Smith has concluded federal court proceedings against Trump following his election victory in 2024. The Justice Department’s policy prevents prosecutors from bringing federal charges against a sitting president. Despite this, the charges against Trump in Georgia have not been dropped, highlighting the ongoing legal battles surrounding the 2020 election.

As the case continues to evolve, it remains a focal point of political and legal discussions. Willis’s refusal to release new communications has only added to the controversy surrounding the investigation into alleged election interference. The outcome of these legal battles will have far-reaching implications for both Trump and his allies, as well as the broader political landscape in the United States.