Trump Georgia case dismissed by judge after prosecutor declines to pursue charges

TLDR:

• Georgia judge dismisses criminal case against President Trump over 2020 election challenges
• New prosecutor declines to pursue charges after DA Fani Willis disqualified over romantic relationship scandal
• Case once considered strongest against Trump collapses after early plea deals secured
• Latest legal victory for Trump following dismissal of federal cases and appeal of New York conviction

A Georgia judge dismissed the criminal case against President Trump on Tuesday, marking another legal victory for the president as what was once considered one of the strongest prosecutions against him completely collapsed.

Judge Scott McAfee ended the case after newly appointed prosecutor Peter J. Skandalakis declined to move forward with charges stemming from Mr. Trump’s efforts to challenge his 2020 loss in Georgia.

“The political persecution of President Trump by disqualified DA Fani Willis is finally over,” Mr. Trump’s attorney, Steve Sadow, said. “This case should never have been brought. A fair and impartial prosecutor has put an end to this lawfare.”

The case unraveled after Ms. Willis was disqualified over her romantic relationship with lead investigator Nathan Wade. The relationship created financial conflict concerns, leading an appeals court to remove her in December.

Ms. Willis had secured a racketeering indictment against Mr. Trump and over a dozen co-defendants, with multiple early plea deals suggesting a strong case.

The dismissal follows Mr. Trump quashing two federal cases and appealing his New York conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records.

Read more:

• Judge ends Georgia criminal case against Trump upon new prosecutor’s request