Dem
47
GOP
53
Remember Fani Willis, the Fulton County D.A. who foolishly appointed her then-boyfriend to prosecute 19 people accused of trying to steal the Georgia presidential election? She was eventually kicked off the case and the state's prosecutor council was directed by a judge to find a replacement. Now that council has appointed Pete Skandalakis, a veteran prosecutor and executive director of the Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia, to take over the case. He wasn't his own first choice, but he couldn't find anyone else willing to do it, so he decided this would be one of those do-it-yourself jobs. Unlike Willis' choice, he has plenty of experience as a prosecutor.
He has the same discretion as any other prosecutor. He can strike plea deals, drop charges, or go to trial. He does have to obey Georgia law, though, which states if there is a probable case for prosecution, he has to make a judgment about proceeding, but if there is no case, he must drop it. Because this is a state case, Donald Trump has no authority to pardon any of the defendants.
The case is very complex, with racketeering charges against 19 people, including Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Ken Chesebro, John Eastman, Mark Meadows, Jenna Ellis, Jeffrey Clark, and others. There are multiple charges in play, and not every defendant has been charged in every crime. Here is a detailed description of the people and charges. Below is a diagram showing who is charged with what.
It is very unlikely that Trump will be prosecuted now, although his prosecution could theoretically be delayed until after he is no longer president. But the other 18 can be prosecuted now, although some have switched sides and are working with the prosecution. Still there are enough big fish here to make the case newsworthy. So far, Skandalakis has given no indication how he plans to proceed. (V)