New Fulton County Prosecutor Dismisses Entire 2020 Election Case After Willis Disqualification

Wednesday, November 26, 2025, 3:00 P.M. ET. 5 Minute Read, By Jennifer Hodges, Political Editor: Englebrook Independent News,

ATLANTA, GA.- The State of Georgia has officially dismissed the racketeering case brought against President Donald J. Trump and his co-defendants, ending one of the most expansive and controversial state-level criminal prosecutions in modern American political history. The dismissal follows the removal of former Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, whose improper conduct with her personally selected special prosecutor rendered the case legally untenable.

     Wednesday’s outcome closes the chapter on a two-year legal battle that began as a sweeping accusation of election interference but ultimately collapsed under ethical failures, jurisdictional issues, and constitutional constraints.

A Landmark Indictment That Never Reached Trial;

     The case originated in August 2023, when a Fulton County grand jury returned a 41-count indictment against Trump and 18 co-defendants. The charges were built around Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, a statute typically reserved for organized crime.

     Prosecutors alleged that Trump and his allies coordinated a plan to challenge and ultimately reverse the 2020 presidential results in Georgia. Among the accusations:

• Creating and submitting an alternate slate of electors.
• Pressuring state officials to reconsider certified vote totals.
• Making public claims about election fraud that state officials disputed.
• Coordinating activity in multiple states beyond Georgia.
• Attempting to access voting systems in rural Coffee County.

     The indictment was unprecedented in scope. Never before had a state prosecutor attempted to criminalize a sitting or former president’s post-election activities as an alleged racketeering enterprise.

The Willis–Wade Controversy That Undid The Case;

     What began as a high-profile prosecution unraveled rapidly when ethical concerns surfaced early in 2024.

     Defense filings revealed that District Attorney Fani Willis had hired attorney Nathan Wade, a personal romantic partner, as a special prosecutor. Wade, who had limited experience with complex RICO litigation, billed Fulton County taxpayers over $650,000, and records showed he paid for vacations and travel he took with Willis.

     This revelation prompted immediate scrutiny. In pretrial hearings throughout February and March 2024, both Willis and Wade faced sharp questioning about conflicts of interest, financial entanglements, and the perception that Wade’s appointment benefited Willis personally.

     Although Judge Scott McAfee initially allowed Willis to remain on the case after Wade’s resignation, he criticized her conduct as a “tremendous lapse in judgment” that undermined confidence in the prosecution.

     Defense attorneys appealed the ruling, arguing that the ethical damage was irreversible. The Georgia Court of Appeals agreed. In December 2024, it ruled that Willis’s involvement created an “appearance of impropriety” that tainted the entire office. That ruling disqualified Willis and every prosecutor under her authority.

     In September 2025, the Georgia Supreme Court declined to review the disqualification, effectively removing the entire Fulton County District Attorney’s Office from the case.

No Prosecutor Wanted The Case, Until One Had To;

     Once Willis was disqualified, the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia (PAC) assumed responsibility. For several months, no district attorney in the state agreed to take the politically fraught and legally complex prosecution.

     Finally, in November 2025, PAC Executive Director Pete Skandalakis stepped in as the legally obligated special prosecutor. Upon review, Skandalakis identified multiple unsustainable elements in the case:

• Jurisdictional issues: Many alleged acts occurred outside Georgia.
• Constitutional barriers: Prosecuting a former and sitting president would face years of litigation.
• Lack of a prosecution team: The disqualification of the entire Fulton County office left no viable staff.
• Structural weakness: The case was built by a team no longer legally allowed to participate.
• Impossibility of partial prosecution: Proceeding without Trump, the central defendant, would distort the case.

     Skandalakis determined the prosecution could not ethically or legally continue. On November 26, 2025, he filed a motion for “nolle prosequi,” asking the court to dismiss all charges. Judge McAfee signed the order the same day, ending the case in full.

A Major Political And Legal Turning Point;

     The dismissal marks another in a series of legal victories for  President Trump and reinforces arguments made for years by critics who say prosecutors weaponized the justice system against a political rival.

     The Georgia case had been cited by national commentators as evidence of political targeting, especially after revelations of Willis’s misconduct. Supporters of the prosecution argued it was designed to protect democratic institutions, but the legal foundation crumbled amid procedural flaws.

     For President Trump, Wednesday’s decision eliminates the last remaining state criminal case from the 2020 election cycle and adds to a growing narrative of failed prosecutions, investigatory overreach, and politically motivated charges.

Detailed Chronological Timeline;

Feb. 10, 2021 — Willis opens an investigation into alleged election interference.
Jan.–July 2023 — Multiple witnesses testify before the special grand jury.
Aug. 14, 2023 — Grand jury indicts Trump and 18 others under Georgia RICO statute.
Jan. 2024 — Defense exposes Willis’s romantic and financial relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade.
Feb.–Mar. 2024 — Court hearings reveal travel records and payments between Wade and Willis.
Mar. 2024 — Judge McAfee orders Wade to resign but initially allows Willis to stay on the case.
Dec. 2024 — Georgia Court of Appeals disqualifies Willis and her entire office.
Sept. 2025 — Georgia Supreme Court declines review; disqualification finalized.
Nov. 14, 2025 — Pete Skandalakis accepts appointment as special prosecutor.
Nov. 26, 2025 — Skandalakis dismisses all charges; the court grants dismissal the same day.

Editor’s Note:

This article was prepared by Jenifer Hodges, Political Editor for Englebrook Independent News. All factual details, dates, and case developments were drawn from publicly available court filings, judicial rulings from the Georgia Court of Appeals and Georgia Supreme Court, statements from the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, and verified reporting from reputable Georgia-based and national news outlets.