ATLANTA (AP) — The prosecutor who recently took over the Georgia election interference case against President Donald Trump and others said in a court filing Wednesday that he has decided not to pursue the case further.
Pete Skandalakis, the executive director of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, took over the case last month from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who was removed over an “appearance of impropriety” created by a romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she chose to lead the case.
Following Skandalakis’ filing, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee issued a one-paragraph order dismissing the case in its entirety.
While it was already unlikely that legal action against Trump could have moved forward while he is president, 14 other defendants still faced charges, including former New York mayor and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani and former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.
Trump's lead attorney in Georgia, Steve Sadow, praised the dismissal, stating: “The political persecution of President Trump by disqualified DA Fani Willis is finally over. This case should never have been brought. A fair and impartial prosecutor has put an end to this lawfare.”
The situation escalated after the Georgia Supreme Court in September declined to hear Willis’ appeal of her disqualification, leaving the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council to find a new prosecutor. Skandalakis indicated he reached out to several prosecutors but none accepted the case. With a looming deadline set by McAfee, he opted to take on the responsibility himself.
Skandalakis noted the case file consisted of 101 boxes and an eight-terabyte hard drive, indicating he had not thoroughly reviewed the evidence before the dismissal. He aimed for a fair assessment and appropriate next steps, considering the public's desire for transparency.
Prior to their removal, Willis and Wade faced intense scrutiny, leading to allegations of a romantic relationship influencing case proceedings. The defense cited this conflict of interest, which ultimately resulted in Willis being disqualified.
In summary, the abrupt dismissal of the Georgia election case marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing controversies surrounding Trump's legal challenges, leaving numerous defendants still facing charges as questions linger over the integrity of the legal processes involved.


















