ATLANTA (AP) — Following the upheaval in the Georgia election interference case involving former President Donald Trump, the nonpartisan Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council has announced that Pete Skandalakis will take over as the lead prosecutor. This appointment comes on the heels of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis being disqualified due to a situation labeled as an appearance of impropriety stemming from her intimate relationship with the special prosecutor she had initially chosen.
In a statement, Skandalakis expressed his commitment to overseeing the case, stating, The filing of this appointment reflects my inability to secure another conflict prosecutor to assume responsibility for this case. Several prosecutors were contacted and, while all were respectful and professional, each declined the appointment.
While the likelihood of any actions against Trump may be stymied due to his current status as president, the case involves 14 other individuals, including notable figures like former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Trump's former attorney, Rudy Giuliani.
Willis, who led the expansive indictment against Trump and 18 others in August 2023, utilized Georgia's anti-racketeering laws to highlight a conspiracy to overturn Trump's narrow defeat by Joe Biden in the 2020 election. The recent disqualification followed defense attorneys’ claims that Willis's personal relationship with Wade presented a conflict of interest, which they asserted had financial implications for her. Although the trial judge identified a lapse in judgment, he ruled that Willis could remain on the case provided Wade resigned—something that happened quickly thereafter.
As the implications of this high-profile case continue to unfold, Skandalakis has indicated his intention to maintain a transparent approach in the case’s future proceedings. The public has a legitimate interest in the outcome of this case, he remarked, indicating his intent to uphold the integrity of the prosecution efforts moving forward.
