The sprawling 2023 racketeering case involving Donald Trump and several allies is still alive, but it now sits under new leadership. After months of uncertainty, the case has moved to Peter Skandalakis, the director of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia. His appointment came after he attempted to find another prosecutor and discovered that no one else was willing to take responsibility.

The shift happened only because Fani Willis, who originally launched the investigation, was removed after a long legal fight. Her exit opened the door for a fresh start, although it also raised questions about how the case might progress.

Why Skandalakis Stepped In

Skandalakis shared in a formal statement that he accepted the role because no conflict prosecutor agreed to step in. He explained that several experienced prosecutors were contacted, yet each turned down the appointment for private reasons. He chose not to disclose their identities or their explanations.

What this really means is that the responsibility has now fallen directly on him. Even so, the future of the case remains unclear, and the legal path ahead is anything but certain.

How the Case Reached This Point

The roots of this high-profile matter go back to August 2023. That is when Willis filed state racketeering charges after a long investigation into efforts to challenge the 2020 Georgia election results. The inquiry followed a January phone call in which Trump pressured Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, urging him to secure enough votes for a win.

The case gained national attention when Trump surrendered at the Fulton County Jail and sat for his first mug shot. Since this was a state case, many believed it had the strongest chance of going to trial compared with the federal cases that surrounded him.

Alongside Trump, eighteen co-defendants faced charges under Georgia’s RICO law. Prosecutors alleged that they collectively took part in a coordinated plan to disrupt the certified election results.

Co-Defendants, Plea Deals, and Mounting Evidence

The investigative file now with Skandalakis is massive. It includes more than a hundred banker boxes and an eight-terabyte hard drive. Several high-profile names are involved, including Mark Meadows and Rudy Giuliani. A few defendants chose plea deals, some admitting to felony charges in exchange for lighter sentences.

Prosecutors also listed thirty unindicted co-conspirators, capturing how wide the alleged network extended. All accused parties have strongly defended themselves, saying they acted out of concern for election irregularities.

The Twist That Changed Everything

Here is where the story took an unexpected turn. In early 2024, a motion by Trump campaign official Michael Roman revealed a romantic relationship between Willis and Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor she had hired. This revelation triggered a fierce legal battle. A judge later allowed Willis to continue on the condition that Wade step away, which he did. Even then, the case paused while appeals judges reviewed the matter.

By December 2024, the appeals court disqualified Willis entirely. The Georgia Supreme Court later declined to intervene, sealing her removal and forcing the case into yet another transition.

What Happens Next

Now the case rests with Skandalakis, a seasoned prosecutor stepping into a politically charged legal storm. The evidence is huge, the stakes are high, and the timeline is uncertain. The next steps will determine whether this historic case advances toward trial or fades into long-term limbo.