A recent court hearing has shed light on the contentious handling of an open records lawsuit against the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office, which is overseeing the high-profile Georgia election interference and racketeering (RICO) case against former President Donald Trump. The lawsuit, filed by attorney Ashleigh Merchant on behalf of Michael Roman, a co-defendant in Trump’s RICO case, accuses the DA’s office of failing to provide documents related to the employment of former special assistant district attorney Nathan Wade. During the hearing, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Rachel Krause refused to rule out the possibility of DA Willis being called to testify but opted to first hear from other staff members of her office.
Records Request Mishandling and Frivolous Lawsuit Claims
Merchant, representing Roman, questioned Bond about whether searches for the requested documents were conducted after the lawsuit was filed. Bond’s response oscillated between recalling searches and not recalling them, leading to a tense back-and-forth exchange. At one point, Bond called the lawsuit “frivolous,” explaining that he did not take it seriously because of who filed it. This remark triggered an objection from Merchant, though Judge Krause allowed Bond to continue his testimony.
“I received your lawsuit,” Bond stated, “and when I saw who it was from, I immediately thought it was frivolous and didn’t even read it.” Bond admitted that he anticipated the lawsuit and believed Merchant was angling for a hearing, dismissing the allegations as not worthy of his attention. His cavalier attitude toward the lawsuit was seen as a major misstep and was criticized by both legal experts and the public.
Fulton County DA Employee Faces Intense Questioning
Merchant pressed Bond on whether any searches were conducted after the lawsuit was filed, but Bond’s responses remained vague. Frustrated by his inability to provide clear answers, Merchant asked the court to intervene. Judge Krause agreed with Merchant, acknowledging that Bond had not directly addressed the question. When Bond finally conceded that one search had been conducted after the subpoena was filed, Merchant tried to narrow down the timeframe for that search. Bond again struggled to provide specific answers, prompting further criticism of the DA’s office’s handling of public records.
Criticism of Fani Willis’s Office Intensifies
Bond’s admission that he did not care about the lawsuit because of Merchant’s involvement became a focal point of criticism. Clips of his testimony circulated widely on social media, drawing condemnation from both attorneys and the general public. “This is how Fani Willis runs her office,” attorney Phil Holloway tweeted, criticizing the DA’s handling of the case.
Other attorneys also weighed in, praising Merchant for her persistence in the face of Bond’s evasiveness. Atlanta-based attorney Doug Weinstein tweeted, “[Merchant] has the patience of Job,” referring to her calm and determined approach despite Bond’s combative responses. As the case progresses, questions remain about the transparency and professionalism within the Fulton County DA’s office, particularly regarding the handling of public records and the response to legal challenges.
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