Mark Meadows, indicted with Trump, wants case moved to federal court
Meadows was charged with Donald Trump and 17 others with racketeering and other offenses related to trying to overturn the 2020 election.
Mark Meadows, the former White House chief of staff who was indicted with Donald Trump, is arguing he should be immune from the local charges in Georgia as a former federal official and he has a hearing scheduled Aug. 28 in federal court to make his case.
Meadows, Trump and 17 others were indicted Monday by a Fulton County grand jury on racketeering and other charges dealing with efforts to steal the 2020 election. But Meadows' lawyers argued he should be immune from the charges in federal court because his allegedly criminal actions were part of his federal job.
Meadows filed his request to move the case to federal court Tuesday by asserting he has defenses to these criminal charges that “arise under federal law, including a federal immunity defense under the Supremacy Clause of the Federal Constitution.”
U.S. District Judge Steve Jones refused to immediately remove the case from Fulton County Superior Court, but said he wanted to hear evidence about the request. Jones could potentially remove the case from the local jurisdiction or let it stand.
"Mr. Meadows has the right to remove this matter," his lawyers argued in his filing. "The conduct giving rise to the charges in the indictment all occurred during his tenure and as part of his service as Chief of Staff."
Jones ruled that Meadows’ filing didn’t clearly indicate a change in court is required, but said the ruling wasn’t final. Jones wants to hear from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and collect evidence at the hearing.
As part of the broader conspiracy, the indictment cites Meadows for meeting with Michigan officials, messaging Pennsylvania officials, visiting the Cobb County Civic Arena to monitor an election audit and messaging a Georgia investigator to offer financial assistance to verify election results.
Meadows specifically was charged for participating on Trump’s call Jan. 2, 2021, with Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, when the former president asked him to find enough votes to win the state. Meadows was charged with soliciting Raffensperger to violate his oath of office.