Judge Orders Fani Willis to Pay $54,000 in Open Records Case; Trump Admin Deports Gang Members, Sparks Legal Battle

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is ordered to pay over $54,000 in attorneys' fees and release documents for violating Georgia's Open Records Act in a case brought by Ashleigh Merchant, representing former Trump campaign staffer Michael Roman. Judge Rachel Krause found Willis' office acted intentionally and without good faith in withholding records related to the Trump election interference case. Willis' office plans to appeal. Separately, the Trump administration deported 261 illegal aliens to El Salvador, including MS-13 gang members, under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. A judge blocked the deportations, but the administration proceeded, claiming the order came after the flights had departed. The White House defended the action as an anti-terrorism operation.