New Prosecutor Drops Charges Against Trump in Georgia Case

The new prosecutor in the Georgia election interference case has opted not to pursue charges against U.S. President Donald Trump and others involved, according to a court filing on Wednesday. Pete Skandalakis, who took over the case from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, announced his decision, leading to the dismissal of the case by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee.

Skandalakis assumed control of the case last month after Willis was disqualified due to an “appearance of impropriety” stemming from a romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she appointed. Following Skandalakis’s filing, Judge McAfee issued a brief order dismissing the case entirely, effectively concluding the legal proceedings against Trump.

While the dismissal affects Trump, it does not eliminate the challenges facing the 14 other defendants involved, including former New York Mayor and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani and former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. Both individuals still face charges related to the alleged interference in the 2020 election.

After the Georgia Supreme Court declined to review Willis’s appeal regarding her disqualification in September, the responsibility fell to the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia to appoint a new prosecutor. Skandalakis indicated he reached out to several potential candidates, but none were willing to take on the high-profile case. With a deadline set by Judge McAfee for the appointment of a new prosecutor by November 14, 2023, Skandalakis ultimately decided to appoint himself to prevent the case from being dismissed altogether.

The decision not to prosecute Trump aligns with the expectation that legal actions against a sitting president would face significant hurdles. The Georgia case, which has attracted national attention, has now shifted focus to the remaining defendants who continue to navigate the legal landscape following the fallout from the 2020 presidential election.