Georgia prosecutor drops 2020 election case against Trump, ending last criminal proceeding

The 2020 election interference case in Georgia against President Donald Trump has been formally dismissed, concluding the final criminal proceeding against the U.S. leader. Prosecutor Pete Skandalakis filed a motion to drop the charges, which was promptly granted by Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee on Wednesday. Skandalakis, who took over the case after the disqualification of the original prosecutor, determined that pursuing the complex racketeering case for another five to ten years would not serve the citizens of Georgia . This development is closely watched in Türkiye and internationally, as it significantly impacts the U.S. political landscape.

A Case Deemed Impractical to Pursue

In a 23-page motion, Skandalakis detailed pragmatic and legal reasons for dismissing the case. He noted the "unrealistic prospect" of bringing a sitting president to trial before his term ends in January 2029 . Even after that, he argued, an immediate trial would be "impossible," and the sheer complexity of the case could delay a jury trial until 2030 or 2031 . Skandalakis also concluded that his agency lacked the necessary resources to handle such a vast racketeering indictment .

The Fall of the Original Prosecution

The case was initially brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who secured a grand jury indictment in August 2023 alleging a criminal conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election results . However, the prosecution was derailed after Willis was disqualified from the case due to an "appearance of impropriety" stemming from a romantic relationship with a special prosecutor she had hired . Following an unsuccessful search for a replacement, Skandalakis ultimately appointed himself to the role before deciding to terminate the prosecution .

Case History and Defense Reaction

The indictment accused Trump and 18 allies of a racketeering conspiracy, centered on a January 2021 phone call where Trump pressed Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to "find" enough votes to reverse the outcome . Trump's legal team celebrated the dismissal, with lead attorney Steve Sadow stating, "The political persecution of President Trump by disqualified DA Fani Willis is finally over... A fair and impartial prosecutor has put an end to this lawfare" . The dismissal also applies to the remaining co-defendants, including former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and ex-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows .