The Fulton County, Georgia, election interference case involving former President Donald Trump and several co-defendants has been officially dismissed. This decision comes after the new prosecutor, Pete Skandalakis, requested the case be dropped, stating, "In my professional judgment, the citizens of Georgia are not served by pursuing this case in full for another five to ten years." Skandalakis, who took over the case following the disqualification of the original prosecutor, received immediate approval from the presiding judge.
Within moments of Skandalakis' court filing, Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee granted the request, stating, "This case is hereby dismissed in its entirety." Earlier this month, Judge McAfee had scheduled a status/pretrial hearing for December 1. The case revolved around allegations against Trump and 18 other individuals who pleaded not guilty in August 2023 to charges stemming from a sweeping racketeering indictment. These charges were related to alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.
The charges were initiated by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis following Trump's controversial phone call on January 2, 2021, during which he urged Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to "find" the votes necessary for him to win the state. The indictment accused the defendants of soliciting state leaders, harassing a Georgia election worker, and pushing false claims about the election being stolen, all aimed at maintaining Trump's hold on power despite his electoral defeat.
This dismissal marks the conclusion of two major election interference cases that Trump faced post-2020 election. Following an eight-month investigation by special counsel Jack Smith, Trump had previously pleaded not guilty to a different set of charges related to a conspiracy to overturn the election results. These charges included enlisting fake electors and utilizing the Justice Department to conduct sham investigations.
Following the dismissal, Trump expressed his satisfaction on social media, criticizing the prosecution and declaring, "The few remaining Democrat Witch Hunts will soon meet the same embarrassing end. We are going to keep winning and continue to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" Trump's attorney, Steve Sadow, stated that the "political persecution" of the former president was finally over, emphasizing that this case should never have been initiated.
Furthermore, a spokesperson for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who had faced disbarment over his involvement in the 2020 election claims, called the dismissal of all charges against him "long overdue." Giuliani's spokesperson remarked that the decision represented a complete rejection of "demonstrably false claims" used to justify his disbarment.
Defendant John Eastman, a former Trump attorney, echoed sentiments that the lawsuit was unwarranted, expressing delight that the replacement prosecutor recognized the legality of challenging election irregularities. Skandalakis, in a comprehensive 22-page filing, explained that the allegations did not provide a viable basis for prosecution and noted the logistical challenges of pursuing a case against Trump. He highlighted that the criminal conduct alleged was conceived in Washington, D.C., indicating that the federal government was the appropriate venue for such prosecutions.
Ultimately, Skandalakis concluded that the evidence presented did not meet the rigorous standards required for a criminal conviction, particularly regarding the lack of criminal intent among the defendants. He acknowledged that his decision might face criticism but maintained that his judgment was grounded in legal principles and the pursuit of justice. The dismissal of this case concludes a significant chapter in the ongoing narrative surrounding Trump's post-election legal battles.