In brief
In a significant decision, Georgia prosecutor Pete Skandalakis has dropped the 2020 election interference case against former President Donald Trump. This case was the last legal threat stemming from the 2020 election, following the initial charges filed by district attorney Fani Willis, who was later disqualified due to a personal scandal. Skandalakis stated the dismissal serves the interests of justice and promotes judicial finality. The ruling has sparked reactions, with Trump's attorney hailing it as a triumph over politically motivated legal challenges.
A Georgia prosecutor has dropped the 2020 election-interference case against President Donald Trump.
Pete Skandalakis filed a motion to dismiss the case that initially accused Trump and others of plotting to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in the state in favor of Joe Biden.
The state charges were the last remaining criminal legal case against the US president stemming from the 2020 election. It was first brought by district attorney Fani Willis, but she was removed from the case by the state's supreme court after a personal scandal.
A fair and impartial prosecutor has put an end to this lawfare, an attorney for Trump said in response to the dismissal.
Willis was removed from the case after the court found a romantic relationship with a special prosecutor assigned to the case created an appearance of impropriety.
Skandalakis, executive director of the nonpartisan agency Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia, appointed himself to the case after Willis' disqualification and when other state prosecutors declined to take the case.
In Wednesday's motion to a Fulton County judge, Skandalakis said he was discontinuing the case to serve the interests of justice and promote judicial finality.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts.
}
