A turning point in Georgia's high-stakes prosecution over the 2020 presidential election has arrived with the appointment of Peter J. Skandalakis as special prosecutor. As executive director of the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia, he now takes on the responsibility of determining the fate of the state's sweeping racketeering case against Donald J. Trump and his allies.
Skandalakis leads the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia, a statewide agency that supports district attorneys and manages assignments when elected prosecutors recuse or are disqualified.
Earlier in his career, he served as a district attorney in Georgia's Coweta Judicial Circuit.
He has previously taken on politically sensitive matters in the state, including investigations of elected officials and complex criminal-justice issues.
The case at the center of this turn of events is the state prosecution of Trump and others under Georgia's racketeering (RICO) law for alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
Key triggers for Skandalakis stepping in:
- Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis was disqualified from the case by the Georgia Court of Appeals because of a "significant appearance of impropriety" involving a romantic relationship with the lead prosecutor she hired.
- A court-imposed deadline required the PAC to appoint a new prosecutor by a specified date or risk dismissal of the case.
- After contacting several prosecutors who declined the assignment, Skandalakis opted to appoint himself to the role, placing him at the helm of the case.
What He's Doing Now & What's at Stake
Skandalakis has taken possession of the case materials — described as "more than 100 banker-boxes" of documents and an "8-terabyte" data set — and has begun the review process. He has acknowledged that his review is ongoing, and that appointing himself gives him the ability to perform a full assessment before deciding how to proceed.
In his new role, Skandalakis faces several potential paths:
- Continue the prosecution as structured by Willis' office — meaning pursue the full indictment against Trump and co-defendants.
- Modify or narrow the scope — focusing on fewer defendants or fewer counts, possibly revising indictments or dropping certain charges.
- Dismiss the case entirely — which would carry major implications for justice, precedent and public confidence.
One significant detail: while the case against Trump may be on hold during his presidency, other co-defendants are still subject to state prosecution, so Skandalakis' decision could affect dozens of people.
Why This Matters
- With the prior prosecutor removed for conflict concerns, Skandalakis carries the burden of restoring confidence in the integrity and neutrality of the investigation.
- This case rests on Georgia state law — meaning federal pardons or federal case outcomes don't automatically apply. Skandalakis' decisions thus have unique consequences for state-level accountability.
- How he handles the appointment, the review process and eventual prosecution or dismissal may shape how Georgia addresses politically charged cases in the future — especially those involving election integrity.
- Financial and legal risk. If the case is dropped, Georgia (and Fulton County) could face significant financial consequences, including potential reimbursement to defendants under state law.
Challenges & Criticisms
- Some observers may question whether it is appropriate or healthy for one individual to appoint himself to such a pivotal role in a case of this scale and sensitivity.
- Skandalakis has underscored how vast the evidence is and how complex the matter remains. There's a risk that delays or perceived sluggishness could undermine public trust.
- Any missteps in oversight, disclosure, conflict avoidance or transparency could expose the prosecution to future challenge, dismissal or appeal.
- Given the partisan dynamics around the 2020 election and Trump's central role, every decision will be scrutinized. Maintaining procedural rigor will be crucial.
