Skandalakis is the Georgia Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council executive director
Pete Skandalakis, executive director of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, will replace Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis in handling the Georgia election interference case against US President Donald Trump, reported the Associated Press.
Skandalakis announced that he would take on the task Friday November 14 after other prosecutors contacted by the council rejected the responsibility. The council had been put in charge of finding a replacement for Willis after she was taken off the case when her romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade came to light.
Skandalakis had the option to let the council’s deadline lapse or told the Georgia Supreme Court that a replacement could not be found, which meant the case would be dropped. However, he said in an email statement published by AP News that he opted to tackle the case himself because “the public has a legitimate interest in the outcome of this case.”
“Accordingly, it is important that someone make an informed and transparent determination about how best to proceed,” he wrote in the statement.
Skandalakis indicated in his filing that he would not be taking additional pay for his work on the election interference case and that Fulton County would be reimbursing costs. Willis’ office had reportedly handed over 101 boxes of documents to him on October 29. On November 6, the office passed him an eight-terabyte hard drive containing the full investigative file.
Skandalakis indicated that he had yet to finish his evaluation but he accepted the case to complete his assessment and determine the next steps. He also noted that recent pardons issued by Trump would not impact the case.
Nonetheless, Georgia State University law professor Anthony Michael Kreis said in a statement published by AP News that Skandalakis was a temporary appointment and charges against Trump could not proceed during Trump’s presidency. He added that given the council’s limited resources, the case could be simplified or plea deals reached.
Apart from Trump, 14 defendants were named in the election interference case, including Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows.
Skandalakis has helmed the nonpartisan Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia since 2018. He was previously the Republican district attorney for the Coweta Judicial Circuit, southwest of Atlanta.
