Georgia's Trump Case: A New Prosecutor Takes the Helm

The legal landscape in Georgia has shifted with a new prosecutor stepping in to handle the high-profile case against former President Donald Trump and his associates. Pete Skandalakis, a seasoned lawyer and executive director of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, has taken over the reins after Fani T. Willis, the Fulton County district attorney, was disqualified from the case. Skandalakis, who started his career as a Democrat before switching to the Republican Party, found himself in charge after other prosecutors declined to take on the complex case. In a court filing, he explained that he reached out to several prosecutors, but none were willing to step up. So, he decided to take the case on himself. This change raises questions about the future of the case. Skandalakis has the authority to take the case to trial, negotiate plea deals, drop some charges, or even dismiss the case entirely. Anthony Michael Kreis, a law professor at Georgia State University, noted that Skandalakis has the same prosecutorial discretion as any other prosecutor. He must review each case for probable cause and decide whether to proceed based on the facts. Trump's legal team sees this as an opportunity. Steve Sadow, Trump's lead defense lawyer in Georgia, stated that the politically charged prosecution should come to an end. He expressed confidence that a fair review would lead to the dismissal of the case against Trump. On the other hand, critics of Trump view Skandalakis' decision to take on the case as a positive step for democracy. Norm Eisen, executive chairman of the Democracy Defenders Fund, emphasized the importance of accountability for the events following the 2020 election. He warned that without accountability, similar issues could arise again. The case against Trump and his allies is significant. They are accused of organizing a criminal racketeering enterprise to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia, which Trump narrowly lost. The indictment includes a notable phone call Trump made to Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s secretary of state, where he pressured Raffensperger to "find" enough votes to change the election outcome. This case is part of a broader legal battle. Trump faces state election interference charges only in Georgia, but similar cases are ongoing in other states. A Michigan case against fake electors acting on his behalf was dismissed this year, while cases in Nevada and Arizona are facing legal challenges. In addition to the Georgia case, Trump has other legal troubles. A federal criminal election case was dropped after he won the 2024 election, and a separate federal criminal case related to his handling of classified documents was dismissed last year. In another criminal case related to payments to cover up a sex scandal during the 2016 presidential campaign, a jury in New York found him guilty on 34 felony counts. Trump has appealed that conviction.