A Judge on Wednesday dismissed the Georgia election interference case against President Donald Trump and others after the prosecutor who took over the case said he would not pursue the charges, ending the last effort to punish the President in the courts for his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss. Pete Skandalakis, the Executive Director of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, took over the case last month from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who was removed over an “appearance of impropriety” created by a romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she chose to lead the case. After Skandalakis’ filing, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee issued a one-paragraph order dismissing the case in its entirety. The latest criminal case against Trump to unravel The abandonment of the Georgia case is the latest reflection of how Trump has emerged largely unscathed from a spate of prosecutions that once threatened to imperil his political career and personal liberty. Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith, who had charged Trump with conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election and hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, dropped both cases after Trump won the White House last year. Smith cited longstanding Justice Department policy against the indictment of a sitting President. And though Trump was convicted of felony charges in New York in connection with hush money payments during the 2016 election, he was sentenced in January to an unconditional discharge, leaving his conviction intact but sparing him any punishment. It was unlikely that legal action against Trump could have moved forward while he is President. Fourteen other defendants still faced charges, including former New York Mayor and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani and former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. Steve Sadow, Trump’s lead attorney in Georgia, applauded the case’s dismissal: “The political persecution of President Trump by disqualified DA Fani Willis is finally over. This case should never have been brought. A fair and impartial prosecutor has put an end to this lawfare.” The Associated Press has reached out to a spokesperson for Willis seeking comment on the dismissal. “The strongest and most prosecutable case against those seeking to overturn the 2020 Presidential election results and prevent the certification of those votes was the one investigated and indicted by Special Counsel Jack Smith,” Skandalakis wrote in his court filing Wednesday. He added that the criminal conduct alleged in the Georgia indictment “was conceived in Washington, D. C., not the State of Georgia. The federal government is the appropriate venue for this prosecution, not the State of Georgia.” Why a new prosecutor took over the Georgia case After the Georgia Supreme Court in September declined to hear Willis’ appeal of her disqualification, it fell to the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council to find a new prosecutor. Skandalakis said last month that he reached out to several prosecutors, but they all declined to take the case. McAfee set a Nov. 14 deadline for the appointment of a new prosecutor, so Skandalakis chose to appoint himself rather than let the case be dismissed right away. He said Willis’ office only recently delivered the case file 101 boxes and an eight-terabyte hard drive and he hadn’t had a chance to review everything yet. Citing the public’s “legitimate interest in the outcome of this case,” he said he wanted to assess the evidence and decide on appropriate next steps. Skandalakis, who has led the small, nonpartisan council since 2018, said in a court filing last month that he will get no extra pay for the case but that Fulton County will reimburse expenses. He previously spent about 25 years as the elected Republican District Attorney for the Coweta Judicial Circuit, southwest of Atlanta. How the Georgia case fell apart Willis announced the sprawling indictment against Trump and 18 others in August 2023, using the state’s anti-racketeering law to allege a wide-ranging conspiracy to illegally overturn Trump’s narrow loss to Democrat Joe Biden in Georgia. Defense attorneys sought Willis’ removal after one revealed in January 2024 that Willis had a romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor she hired to lead the case. The defense attorneys alleged a conflict of interest and said Willis profited from the case when Wade used his earnings to pay for vacations the pair took. During an extraordinary hearing the following month, Willis and Wade testified about the intimate details of their relationship. They said the romance didn’t begin until after Wade was hired and that they split the costs for vacations and other outings. The Judge rebuked Willis for a “tremendous lapse in judgment” but found no disqualifying conflict of interest, ruling she could stay on the case if Wade resigned, which he did hours later. Defense attorneys appealed, and the Georgia Court of Appeals removed Willis from the case in December 2024, citing an “appearance of impropriety.” The state Supreme Court declined to hear Willis’ appeal. ___ Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/767421-new-prosecutor-wont-pursue-charges-against-donald-trump-others-in-georgia-election-interference-case/
Tag: disqualification
McLaren issues apology to Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri as the duo are disqualified from F1 Las Vegas GP
McLaren has issued an apology to both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri after the duo were disqualified from the F1 Las Vegas GP for excessive plank wear. The race had been a standard one for the team and the drivers, with Norris finishing second behind Max Verstappen and Piastri in fourth place. After the race, however, in the post-race scrutiny, both McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were found to have suffered from excessive plank wear that led to the duo being disqualified from the race. The result is a major blow for Norris, especially, who had emerged as the championship favorite after this race. If the original results had stayed, Lando Norris would be going into the F1 Qatar GP next race weekend 42 points ahead of rival Max Verstappen and 30 points clear of teammate Oscar Piastri. As it stands, the driver is only 24 points ahead of both Piastri and Verstappen. In the team’s press release, McLaren boss Andrea Stella issued an apology to the duo, as both were hampered in the title battle by the disqualification. He said, “During the race, both cars experienced unexpected, high levels of porpoising not seen in the Practice sessions, which led to excessive contact with the ground. We are investigating the reasons for this behaviour of the car, including the effect of accidental damage sustained by both cars, which we found after the race, and that led to an increase of movement of the floor.” He added, “As the FIA noted, the breach was unintentional, there was no deliberate attempt to circumvent the regulations, and mitigating circumstances also existed. We apologise to Lando and Oscar for the loss of points today, at a critical time in their Championship campaigns after two strong performances from them all weekend. Lando Norris on the McLaren’s double disqualification The disqualification severely hampers Lando Norris, as the driver almost had one hand on the trophy when he emerged in 2nd behind Max Verstappen. The driver had enough of a buffer that, unless he suffered a major incident, he could coast to the championship. Those dynamics have, however, changed now. Lando Norris’ lead over Max Verstappen is not too much, and the driver would have to be careful. In the team’s press release, the driver conceded that what’s done is done as the focus shifts to Qatar. He said, “It’s frustrating to lose so many points. As a team, we’re always pushing to find as much performance as we can, and we clearly didn’t get that balance right today. Nothing I can do will change that now, instead full focus switches to Qatar, where we’ll aim to go out and deliver the best possible performance in every session.” The next race in Qatar is certainly going to be interesting, as with two race weekends left, we have three drivers in contention for the championship. Something that hasn’t been the case since 2010.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/f1/news-mclaren-issues-apology-lando-norris-oscar-piastri-duo-disqualified-f1-las-vegas-gp
NTA introduces Aadhaar-based exam center allotment for national-level tests
**NTA Introduces Aadhaar-Based Exam Center Allotment for National-Level Tests**
*By Snehil Singh | Oct 08, 2025, 04:48 PM*
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced a significant change in the exam center allotment process for national-level entrance tests starting from the 2026-27 academic session. Under the new system, candidates will no longer have the option to select their preferred exam cities. Instead, exam centers will be allotted strictly based on the address mentioned on their Aadhaar cards.
### A Move Towards Transparency and Fairness
This shift aims to enhance transparency and curb impersonation and cheating during examinations. By linking exam centers to Aadhaar-registered addresses, the NTA hopes to strengthen the integrity of the examination process.
### Focus on Rural Candidates and Travel Concerns
Candidates from small towns and villages will be assigned centers in or near their Aadhaar-registered locations. However, this decision has sparked concerns among students and parents, especially for those who study or reside away from their permanent homes. Many fear travel difficulties if their Aadhaar details are outdated or inaccurate.
To mitigate such issues, the NTA urges candidates to verify and update their Aadhaar information well before the application window opens. Ensuring accurate Aadhaar details will help avoid last-minute travel challenges on exam day.
### Tightened Verification Measures
In addition to the new allotment policy, the NTA has strengthened its verification process. It is now mandatory for personal details on the Aadhaar card to exactly match those on the candidate’s Class 10 marksheet. Even minor discrepancies can result in application cancellation.
Candidates are advised to visit their nearest UIDAI center to correct any errors and ensure that their Aadhaar-linked addresses are accurate. This step is crucial since exam centers will be assigned based on this information.
### Consistency Required for Reservation Claims
Furthermore, candidates belonging to SC, ST, OBC, EWS, or PwD categories should ensure that their category certificates are consistent with both Aadhaar and Class 10 records. Any inconsistencies could lead to rejection of reservation claims or possible disqualification.
### Conclusion
The NTA describes these new policies as part of its ongoing efforts to streamline examination procedures and reinforce fairness in candidate verification. Students are encouraged to take prompt action to update their Aadhaar details and certificates accordingly to avoid any disruptions during the examination process.
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Stay informed and prepare ahead to ensure a smooth exam experience under the new Aadhaar-based center allotment system.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/career/nta-revises-exam-centers-based-on-aadhaar-address-from-2026/story