Fulton taxpayers on the hook for dismissed Trump case

How is it that Fulton County DA Fani Willis still has a job?

President Donald Trump is requesting reimbursement for his legal fees defending himself against the now-dismissed case of election interference. Georgia law gives Trump the right to request over $6 million in legal fees.

Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts estimates it will be north of $15 million, which will have to come out of the general fund. Read that as “taxpayers’ pockets.” This figure does not include the amount of money Willis spent pursuing Trump.

Willis has left Fulton County taxpayers on the hook for political lawfare against Trump. She needs to resign or be removed from office and disbarred.

DEAN HEINZ, JOHNS CREEK

No reason for ICE to be armed and masked

U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., reminds us that the American armed forces are under no obligation to obey unlawful orders.

Lured by waived requirements for character and experience, and by hefty sign-up payments, some armed and masked members of the paramilitary enforcers of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement apparently feel no such constraints.

If only the rest would begin to feel the guilt of inflicting the pain and disorder of the armed occupancy of our cities, they would certainly walk away from their most dishonorable jobs. In turn, the criminal administrators would have to face a dearth of willing actors.

There is no reason that ICE personnel should not be uniformed similarly to forest rangers or customs agents, or to carry more than minimal sidearms.

STUART SILVERMAN, ATLANTA

‘Dreamers’ deserve pathway to citizenship

Kudos to the Rev. Tom Hagood for his Opinion article that appeared in the Jan. 6 issue of the AJC (“Ga’s support of ‘Dreamers’ a moral imperative”). Members of the Mission Team at my church read his article and felt compelled to write a letter of support for Reverend Hagood’s effort to get Congress to offer “Dreamers” the protection and peace of mind they deserve.

These are people who were brought to the United States as children as their families sought a better life. And they are working hard to make it a reality. It is a story as old as the United States, even older, going back to the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock.

Please support the “Dreamers” by reaching out to your representatives in the Senate and House of Representatives and asking them to pass immigration reform that includes protection and a pathway to citizenship for “Dreamers” while also maintaining the DACA program.

ERIC DUSENBURY, ATLANTA

Keep Reading

The office of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, seen testifying Dec. 17 at the Capitol, may have to pay around $17 million to Donald Trump and others she accused of criminal election interference. Trump was not in office when charged, having lost the 2020 election. (Arvin Temkar/AJC 2025)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Featured

Gov. Brian Kemp speaks at the annual Georgia Chamber Eggs & Issues breakfast at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC