On January 7, 2026, former President Donald Trump submitted a motion in Fulton County, Georgia, seeking reimbursement of more than $6 million in legal fees after the dismissal of his election interference case in November 2025. The case was dropped by Prosecutor Pete Skandalakis, who took over from District Attorney Fani Willis after her disqualification due to an 'appearance of impropriety' as determined by an appeals court. Skandalakis indicated that continuing the case would not effectively serve the citizens of Georgia, suggesting it could extend for another five to ten years.

In his motion, Trump described Willis's investigation, initiated in February 2021, as politically motivated. He claims entitlement to recover his legal fees under a new Georgia law allowing defendants to seek reimbursement when a prosecuting attorney is disqualified. This law was introduced by Republican state senator Brandon Beach, who acknowledged its design was influenced by Trump's situation.

Trump had previously pleaded not guilty to all charges in the Georgia election interference case on August 31, 2023, opting to submit his plea through a court filing rather than appearing in person. Alongside Trump, 18 other individuals, including former personal attorney Rudy Giuliani and legal advisors John Eastman and Sidney Powell, were arrested in connection with the case, but all charges against them were ultimately dropped by Skandalakis.

Eastman and another attorney, Robert Cheeley, have also filed motions to recover their legal fees, with estimates suggesting that the total cost to taxpayers for all defendants could reach between $10 million and $15 million. Willis has contested these fee claims, raising concerns about the implications of the 2025 law on the separation of powers, as it may impose financial liability on a constitutional officer for fulfilling official duties. A spokesperson for the District Attorney's office confirmed that a motion to intervene in the matter has been filed, but declined to provide further comments.

In a related context, Trump has also faced ongoing scrutiny regarding his administration's actions, including military interventions and allegations of misconduct. On January 10, 2026, he called for the imprisonment of Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is overseeing investigations into Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election results and the mishandling of classified documents. Trump labeled Smith as 'deranged' and referenced a report alleging that Smith's investigation compensated an FBI informant with $20,000 for information relevant to the case. It is important to note that compensating informants is a legal practice under U.S. law.

Smith has previously indicted Trump on two occasions: once for efforts to overturn the election and once for mishandling classified documents. Trump's rhetoric against investigators, including Smith, reflects a broader pattern of resistance to legal scrutiny. Smith is expected to testify before Congress regarding his investigations, having indicated he possesses substantial evidence to support indictments against Trump for election interference and document mishandling.