ATLANTA (PulseWire) — Following the removal of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the high-profile Georgia election interference case involving former President Donald Trump, Pete Skandalakis, the executive director of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, has announced he will take charge of the prosecution.
Willis was disqualified due to an “appearance of impropriety” connected to a romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor she had appointed for the case. Skandalakis emphasized in a statement that his appointment comes after efforts to find a conflict-free prosecutor were unsuccessful, stating, Several prosecutors were contacted and...each declined the appointment.
Despite Trump being shielded from prosecution while in office, 14 other co-defendants, including former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and former mayor Rudy Giuliani, still face charges.
Skandalakis noted the significance of proceeding with the case, citing the public's interest in its outcome. He maintained that a thorough and transparent process is vital amidst the changing leadership. The public has a legitimate interest in the outcome of this case, he expressed.
Recent developments also include Trump announcing pardons for individuals involved in his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results, yet this move does not influence state-level charges.
The Georgia Supreme Court's prior decision to decline Willis' appeal of her disqualification placed the responsibility of appointing a new prosecutor on the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council. Skandalakis now has the discretion to either continue with Willis’ prosecution strategy or adjust the charges as deemed appropriate.
Willis originally filed a sweeping indictment against Trump and 18 others in August 2023, utilizing Georgia's anti-racketeering law to allege a conspiracy aimed at overturning the election results. The situation escalated following revelations of Willis’ personal relationship with Wade, leading to a conflict-of-interest claim by defense attorneys.
The case continues to draw significant public and media attention as new developments unfold, and the upcoming proceedings will be closely watched by legal experts and the public alike.
