The U.S. Department of Justice has asked a federal judge, Eleanor Ross, to step aside from hearing its bid to force the state of Georgia to turn over a copy of its non-public voter registration list after she was linked to a judicial misconduct case.
Key Takeaways
The U.S. Department of Justice has asked Judge Eleanor Ross to recuse herself from a Georgia voter rolls case due to allegations of judicial misconduct involving an extramarital affair and attending a political event for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
- DOJ files motion seeking Judge Ross's recusal in Georgia election case
- Reports identify Ross as judge disciplined for attending DA Fani Willis' victory party
- Judicial Council found Ross engaged in extramarital sex with police officer in chambers
- DOJ cites appearance of bias due to political event attendance
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▼Source Claims Check
1 Difference FoundAll 3 publishers report consistent facts across 1 key claim. 1 point of difference noted.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Political Event Attendance | 1 Difference | Reuters, CNBC report party attendance; Fox News reports fundraiser | ▼ |
| Judge Misconduct | Broad Agreement | Judge Eleanor Ross had extramarital affair with police officer in chambers |
Political Event Attendance
▼Reuters, CNBC report party attendance; Fox News reports fundraiser
Judge Misconduct
Broad AgreementJudge Eleanor Ross had extramarital affair with police officer in chambers
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
According to Reuters and CNBC, the DOJ filed the request following reports that identified Judge Ross as the unnamed judge who had been privately reprimanded for having sex with a high-ranking police officer in her chambers within earshot of law clerks. The DOJ argued that Ross's attendance at a political campaign event for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis created an appearance of bias.
Fox News reported that the affair took place over several years from 2023 until 2025, and that Ross lied about it when caught. The publication also noted that Ross cursed at staff who objected to her behavior and retaliated against those who reported the misconduct.
The DOJ's motion for recusal cited news outlets that had identified Judge Ross as the jurist in question. According to CNBC, the Eleventh Circuit Judicial Council found that a 'Subject Judge' committed judicial misconduct by attending a partisan political event and engaging in extramarital sex in chambers with a high-ranking police officer.
The DOJ argued that Ross's attendance at Willis's victory party created an appearance of bias, as Willis is known for prosecuting President Donald Trump. According to Reuters, the DOJ stated that 'a judge who attended a party celebrating the election of a Democrat best known for prosecuting a Republican President for alleged election interference cannot then preside over a case concerning that President’s efforts to ensure election integrity.'
The case in question is United States v. Raffensperger, which involves the DOJ's lawsuit against Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger over his refusal to turn over election records.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 3 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.