Politics

New Prosecutor Appointed in Georgia Election Case After Willis Disqualification

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Nov 15, 2025

THE BARE STORY

Peter J. Skandalakis, director of the Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia, has appointed himself as the new prosecutor in the state's election interference case involving former President Donald Trump and more than a dozen other defendants. The appointment was made Friday, meeting a court-ordered deadline to replace former prosecutor Fani Willis. Skandalakis said he took on the role himself after several other prosecutors declined the appointment.

The case originated in August 2023 when then-District Attorney Willis of Fulton County secured a racketeering indictment against Trump and 18 others, accusing them of a scheme to illegally overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. Willis was later disqualified from the case by a state appeals court, which cited an "appearance of impropriety" and a conflict of interest over a romantic relationship she had with Nathan Wade, a special prosecutor she had hired.

Skandalakis stated he will now conduct a comprehensive review of the evidence before deciding how to proceed. As the prosecutor, he has the option to continue with the existing indictment, modify the charges, or dismiss the case. In a statement, an attorney for Trump, Steve Sadow, said he was confident that a fair review would lead to the case's dismissal.

Four of the original defendants have pleaded guilty. The remaining 14 defendants, including former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, still face charges. Recent presidential pardons issued by Trump do not affect this state-level case.

Same Facts. Different Perspectives.

Two AI models. Two viewpoints. One factual foundation.

Perspective by Claude

• The indictment alleges a coordinated scheme to illegally overturn an election. The case, initiated by a Fulton County district attorney, secured a racketeering indictment against former President Trump and 18 others in August 2023. The indictment accuses the defendants of participating in a scheme to unlawfully change the outcome of the 2020 election results in Georgia.

• Four of the original defendants have already pleaded guilty. The article notes that of the initial group of individuals charged, four have entered guilty pleas. This development indicates that several people involved in the alleged events have accepted legal responsibility for their actions as presented by the prosecution.

• The case is proceeding under a new prosecutor and is unaffected by federal pardons. Despite the disqualification of the original prosecutor, a new one, Peter J. Skandalakis, has been appointed to continue the legal process. Skandalakis has the authority to move forward with the existing indictment, and the article specifies that this state-level case is not affected by recent presidential pardons.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

• The appointment of a new prosecutor who must review the case will likely delay the start of any potential trial, affecting its timing relative to elections.

• The future of the case is now uncertain, as the new prosecutor has the authority to dismiss the charges, modify them, or proceed to trial.

• Because this is a state-level case, any convictions would not be subject to federal presidential pardons, ensuring a legal outcome independent of federal power.

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