Trump prepares to recover millions in legal fees from Georgia case

Although former President Donald Trumps criminal case in Georgia linked to the 2020 election has officially ended, the legal saga continues. Trump is planning to request reimbursement for millions of dollars in attorney fees, a burden that would fall on taxpayers due to the cases dismissal.

Steve Sadow, Trumps primary defense attorney in Georgia, confirmed that the former president intends to pursue this reimbursement. He highlighted the relevant statute, GA Code 17-11-6, on LinkedIn, which permits state criminal defendants to recover legal fees if charges are dropped because the prosecutor was disqualified due to improper conduct.

This law was enacted earlier this year by Georgia lawmakers, with bipartisan support. It allows any defendant whose charges are dismissed under such circumstances to recover all reasonable legal costs. Trump could seek around $5 million for himself, with total claims, including co-defendants, potentially reaching $10 million.

The funds would be drawn from the Fulton County District Attorneys office budget, Sadow explained, adding that taxpayers would not incur additional expenses. Federal Election Commission filings indicate Trumps legal team has already been paid significant sums: Sadow $1.52 million, former attorney Drew Findling $1.46 million, and Jennifer Little $2.33 million.

Trumps co-defendants have also received substantial legal support. The Georgia Republican Party has contributed over $1.6 million to their defense, and fundraising efforts have supplemented these amounts. Key figures include David Shafer with nearly $45,000, Harrison Floyd raising over $362,000, and John Eastman surpassing $1.6 million for his legal fees.

The original case ended after Georgia courts ruled that District Attorney Fani Willis had a conflict of interest due to a personal relationship with a prosecutor involved in the charges. Pete Skandalakis of Georgias Prosecuting Attorneys Council eventually took over and decided not to proceed, citing insufficient resources and flaws in the legal theory behind the prosecution.

Trump and over a dozen co-defendants, including Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows, have 45 days to file claims for attorney fees under the new law. The amount awarded will be determined by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee.

Author: Riley Thompson