In a major development in the ongoing legal saga surrounding former President Donald Trump; the Supreme Court of Georgia has declined to hear Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ appeal, effectively ending her ability to continue the historic election interference case against Trump. This decision now sets the stage for the appointment of a special prosecutor to carry the case forward.
The Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia announced Tuesday that it will fulfill its duty under state law to designate another prosecutor. Officials say an announcement will be made once the selection is finalized. The new prosecutor could come from the state Attorney General’s or Solicitor General’s office, a private attorney, or even the PAC executive director himself.
The case began in August 2021, when DA Willis indicted Trump and 18 others under Georgia’s anti-racketeering laws, accusing them of a broad scheme to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. This included Trump’s infamous call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, urging him to “find” enough votes to alter the election outcome. So far, four co-defendants have pleaded guilty.
Willis was removed from the case by the Georgia Court of Appeals in December, which cited an “appearance of impropriety” due to her romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, whom she had hired to lead the investigation. Willis had appealed the ruling to the state Supreme Court, which on Tuesday refused to review the case in a narrow 4-3 decision.
President Trump celebrated the ruling, calling it a “great decision” and describing Willis as a “disaster.” In a statement on Truth Social, he said the decision represented a “big win for justice” and criticized what he termed a “fake witch hunt” against himself and other Americans involved.
Meanwhile, Willis issued a measured response, stating she respects the legal process and pledging to make all case files and evidence available to the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council. “I hope whoever is assigned to handle the case will have the courage to do what the evidence and the law demand,” Willis said.
The Georgia GOP echoed Trump’s sentiments, with officials calling for accountability for Willis’ actions and urging further investigations into her conduct.
PAC Executive Director Pete Skandalakis confirmed that the case will eventually return to Fulton County Superior Court, at which point the special prosecutor will officially take over. Skandalakis emphasized that the appointment will not be rushed and will require careful review to ensure the case is handled properly.
Legal analysts note that while Trump, as a former president, may now be shielded from immediate prosecution, 14 other defendants in the case still face charges.
This case is one of several high-profile legal challenges Trump has faced since 2023, including federal prosecutions and a New York state case related to hush money payments.
As Georgia prepares for the next steps, all eyes will be on the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council to see who will take over this landmark investigation and how the case will proceed.
From Atlanta to Washington, the legal and political reverberations of this decision are likely to continue for months to come.
Reporting by Katy Moore.
