“In my professional judgment, pursuing this case for another 5–10 years would not benefit the people of Georgia,” Pete Skandalakis, executive director of the Georgia Prosecuting Attorneys Council, wrote in a 22-page motion submitted to the Fulton County Superior Court on November 26. The motion addressed the prosecution of Trump over alleged efforts to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election outcome.
Skandalakis cited the decision by Special Counsel Jack Smith, who in November 2024 also sought dismissal of the federal case against Trump involving similar allegations of election interference in Washington, D.C.
“If Special Counsel Smith—armed with the full resources of the federal government—has concluded that continuing the prosecution is futile, then a state-level case would likewise be ineffective,” Skandalakis argued. Judge Scott McAfee granted the request and officially “dismissed the case in its entirety.” Steve Sadow, President Trump’s attorney, welcomed the decision.
“The politically motivated prosecution launched by District Attorney Fani Willis against President Trump has finally come to an end. This case should never have been brought. A fair and impartial prosecutor has put an end to this ordeal,” Sadow said.
The original case, initiated in August 2023, charged 19 defendants, including Trump, who faced 13 counts. Judge McAfee later dismissed five charges, leaving Trump with eight. In December 2024, the Georgia Court of Appeals ruled that Willis had engaged in “improper conduct” related to her relationship with a colleague, disqualifying her from further involvement; Skandalakis subsequently took over the case.
Beyond Georgia, prior to winning his second presidential term, Trump faced three other prosecutions:
— allegations of conspiring to overturn the election leading to the Capitol riot in Washington,
— unlawful retention of classified documents in Florida after leaving office, and
— falsifying business records to conceal payments made during the 2016 campaign in New York.
In May 2024, a New York jury found Trump guilty on 34 counts. However, Judge Juan Merchan ruled in January that Trump would receive “unconditional discharge,” meaning no prison time, probation, or financial penalties—though the conviction remains on record.
The two remaining federal cases, both handled by Jack Smith, were abandoned by the special counsel in November 2024.