Last Remaining Trump Criminal Case Resurrected
The only criminal case still pending against Donald Trump has been dramatically revived after Georgia's top prosecutorial official appointed himself to take charge. Pete Skandalakis, executive director of Georgia's Prosecuting Attorneys' Council, announced on Friday that he would personally assume responsibility for the high-profile election interference case following the disqualification of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
Case Background and Key Developments
This legal action represents the final criminal prosecution standing against the former president after numerous other cases have been resolved or dismissed. The case had been teetering on collapse since September when the Georgia Supreme Court removed Willis, ruling that her romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade created an unacceptable appearance of conflict of interest.
The original indictment came in August 2023 when an Atlanta grand jury charged Trump and 18 associates under Georgia's anti-racketeering law. They were accused of participating in a comprehensive scheme to illegally overturn Trump's narrow 2020 election loss to Joe Biden in Georgia. The alleged plot included Trump's now-infamous telephone call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, where he urged the official to "find" enough votes to overcome Biden's margin.
Skandalakis revealed in his statement that several prosecutors had declined to take on the politically charged case before he decided to step in himself. "The filing of this appointment reflects my inability to secure another conflict prosecutor to assume responsibility for this case," he explained. "Several prosecutors were contacted and, while all were respectful and professional, each declined the appointment."
Legal Deadline and Critical Decision
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee had set a firm deadline of 14 November for Skandalakis to find a new prosecutor or risk having the entire case dismissed. The judge's ultimatum placed enormous pressure on the resolution process.
Skandalakis emphasized that allowing the case to collapse was not an acceptable option. "While it would have been simple to allow Judge McAfee's deadline to lapse or to inform the Court that no conflict prosecutor could be secured–thereby allowing the case to be dismissed for want of prosecution–I did not believe that to be the right course of action," he stated. "The public has a legitimate interest in the outcome of this case."
The prosecutor noted that he only received the complete investigative file from Fulton County prosecutors last week, highlighting the timing challenges involved. He appointed himself specifically to "complete a comprehensive review and make an informed decision regarding how best to proceed."
Defendants and Previous Involvement
Among the prominent figures still facing charges in the case are Mark Meadows, Trump's former chief of staff, and Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor who served as Trump's attorney. Four defendants have already pleaded guilty, while Trump and the remaining fourteen have maintained their not guilty pleas.
This isn't Skandalakis's first involvement with the controversial case. Fulton County courts previously asked him to resolve a conflict involving Burt Jones, who served as one of Georgia's sixteen "alternate" GOP electors during the 2020 election dispute. Skandalakis ultimately decided against pressing charges against Jones, who has since become Georgia's lieutenant governor and is now a candidate for governor in 2026.
The case continues to represent a significant legal challenge for Trump, though as president he remains protected from state-level prosecutions. For the other fourteen defendants, however, the prosecution remains active and potentially consequential.
