In a decisive legal turn, the final criminal case against former US President Donald Trump has been formally terminated in Georgia. The long-running prosecution, which alleged a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election results, was dismissed by a state superior court judge.
The Case is Officially Over
Pete Skandalakis, the executive director of Georgia's prosecuting attorneys' council, confirmed the news on Wednesday, stating simply, "it's over." The dismissal was executed via a one-page order issued by Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, bringing the high-profile 2020 racketeering case to a close. Skandalakis indicated he would provide no further commentary on the matter.
A Case Derailed by Disqualification
The case's collapse stems from the disqualification of the original lead prosecutor, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. The Georgia supreme court ruled that her romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, which came to light in dramatic court filings in January 2024, created an unacceptable appearance of a conflict of interest.
This case was the last remaining criminal prosecution against Trump. A grand jury in Atlanta had indicted Trump and 18 co-defendants back in August 2023. They were accused of participating in a wide-ranging scheme to illegally overturn Trump's narrow 2020 election loss to Joe Biden in the state of Georgia, using the state's powerful anti-racketeering law.
Legal and Political Repercussions
The dismissal marks a significant victory for Donald Trump's legal team and removes a major legal threat as he continues his political activities. With this case now concluded, the legal landscape for the former president has been dramatically altered, closing a chapter that began with the historic indictment over election interference allegations.
