The criminal case against Donald Trump and his co-defendants in Georgia has been dismissed, marking the end of the last remaining criminal prosecution against the US president. State prosecutor Pete Skandalakis confirmed to the Guardian that 'it's over' after Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee issued a one-page order dismissing the 2020 racketeering case.
The case, brought by former Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, accused Trump and 18 others of participating in a scheme to illegally overturn Trump's narrow 2020 loss in Georgia. The dismissal follows Willis's disqualification by the Georgia Supreme Court due to a romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, which created an appearance of a conflict of interest.
Trump's attorney Steve Sadow hailed the dismissal, stating, 'The political persecution of President Trump by disqualified DA Fani Willis is finally over.' Trump himself posted on Truth Social, calling the case a 'Witch Hunt' that should never have been brought.
With this dismissal, Trump no longer faces prosecution over his call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to 'find 11,780 votes.' Special counsel Jack Smith had previously dropped federal cases against Trump after his election victory, citing Justice Department policy against indicting a sitting president. Trump's New York conviction for hush-money payments resulted in an unconditional discharge, sparing him punishment.
Four defendants in the Georgia case had pleaded guilty before the dismissal, while 14 others remain subject to prosecution. Trump pardoned 77 people associated with the fake electors affair, including his co-defendants, but did not pardon himself.
