Senator Shawn Still (R–Suwanee) has issued a statement following the dismissal of an election interference case against him. The case was dropped after Pete Skandalakis, a prosecutor with 25 years of experience from the Georgia Prosecutor’s Council, filed a motion in court.
In his statement, Senator Still emphasized his innocence and described his actions as being based on legal advice. “As I said since being publicly branded a target in this investigation, I am an innocent man. As Pete Skandalakis, the professional prosecutor of 25 years who is with the Georgia Prosecutor’s Council stated in his motion filed in court today, I relied on the legal advice of a qualified elections attorney in the meeting, and did what he advised me and the other electors to do. I thought I was fulfilling my duties as an elector. I knew no differently. I received nothing in return for doing so. I never thought I did anything wrong. As Mr. Skandalakis found, I had no criminal intent, which is what you need to commit a crime. There was never any evidence of criminal intent on my part – not when I was named a target, not when I was charged, not in any of the discovery from the state, not in the meeting, not before or after the meeting.”
Still questioned why he alone among electors faced charges: “Nor was there ever an explanation why I was indicted and 13 other electors were not. The only thing which makes me different than other electors is that I ran for and won a State Senate seat. That is not a reason to indict a man, and never has been.”
He expressed gratitude toward Mr. Skandalakis for reviewing the case: “I am deeply appreciative of Mr. Skandalakis taking over this case and examining it. From the beginning I have looked forward to the day when I could be in a courtroom and have my name cleared. That has always been important to me, my family and my friends.”
Still criticized Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’s handling of his indictment: “I have been dismayed since the beginning at the conduct of the office of the District Attorney of Fulton County. I genuinely believe that Fani Willis knew from the beginning that there was no evidence of any criminal intent on my part. And yet she chose to indict me. It is particularly disturbing to me that a prosecutor would indict a man and leave an indictment hanging over his head for two years when she knew full well that she had charged an innocent man, and remained unwilling to dismiss me.”
Concluding his remarks, Still thanked those who supported him during what he called “this difficult challenge” and reaffirmed his commitment to serving District 48: “Now that I am relieved, I am thankful for all of those who supported me during this difficult challenge. I am thankful that I have had the opportunity to serve in the Senate. I look forward to continuing to serve my constituents in District 48 and the citizens of Georgia. I get up every day and try to be the best Senator that I can be.
We all have much to be thankful for in this country. For the 19 of us wrongly charged by Willis, justice has finally prevailed.”
Senator Still currently serves as Senate Majority Caucus Chairman representing portions of Fulton, Forsyth, and Gwinnett counties.
