Georgia prosecutor appoints himself for Trump case after Willis leaves

The head of the Georgia Prosecutor’s Council revealed Friday that he has appointed himself to take over the Georgia election case against President Donald Trump and several others, a move that comes after Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis was disqualified from it.

Council director Peter Skandalakis said he would take over the case after being unable to find another prosecutor to do so.

“The request for this appointment reflects my inability to find another conflict prosecutor to take responsibility for this case,” Skandalakis said. “Several prosecutors were contacted and, although all were respectful and professional, each declined the appointment.”

Trump issues sweeping pardons to his 2020 election allies: What the move really means

Fulton County Prosecutor Fani Willis at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta, Georgia, Friday, March 1, 2024. (Alex Slitz/AP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Willis charged Trump and 18 co-defendants in August 2023 with racketeering and other violations involving interference in the 2020 election, but the case was significantly reduced due to plea deals and dismissals of charges.

The biggest blow to the prosecution, however, came last year, when the Georgia Court of Appeals disqualified Willis, finding that she had an undisclosed romantic relationship with her lead prosecutor, Nathan Wade, and that it presented a conflict of interest. His disqualification put the matter in the hands of the state agency to decide what to do with it.

Fulton County Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade testifies during a hearing in the State of Georgia v. Donald Trump case at the Fulton County Courthouse on February 15, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Alyssa Pointer)

Legal experts has long predicted that it would be difficult to find a new prosecutor to step in and take charge of the sprawling and complex racketeering case against Trump and his allies. Skandalakis said he wanted to do this to avoid the court dismissing the charges due to the lack of a prosecutor.

“The public has a legitimate interest in the outcome of this case, so it is important that someone makes an informed and transparent decision on how best to proceed,” Skandalakis said.

Legal action against Trump while he is a sitting president is unlikely, but some of his still-charged co-defendants, including former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, do not enjoy the same type of protection.

ALVIN BRAGG AVOID MENTIONING TRUMP’S SIGNATURE CASE AS HE CAMPAIGNS FOR RE-ELECTION OF DISTRICT ATTORNEY

President Donald Trump speaks with then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows as they leave the White House September 12, 2020, in Washington, DC. (Photo by ALEX EDELMAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump this week pardoned Meadows, Giuliani and other defendants related to the 2020 election, but the president’s clemency only applies to federal charges.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Trump’s defense attorney, Steve Sadow, said in a statement that he expects the Georgia case to still be dismissed.

“These politically charged prosecutions must be stopped,” Sadow said. “We remain confident that a fair and impartial review will lead to the dismissal of the charges against President Trump.”

Claudia Kelly-Bazan contributed to this report.