A three-judge panel on Monday rejected Mark Meadows’ attempt to move the Fulton County, Georgia election subversion case to federal court.
The former head of the White House legal team argued that because the charges stemmed from his work in the Trump administration, a federal court should hear the charges against him.
“Meadows cannot have it both ways. He cannot hide behind his testimony about the breadth of his official responsibilities, while denying his admission that he understood election activity to be off limits,” Chief Justice William Pryor wrote in a scathing opinion.
“That he has repeatedly denied having any role in, or speaking on behalf of, the Trump campaign, reflects his recognition that such activities are prohibited to him as chief of staff,” he added.
Meadows can appeal the decision.
Pryor was appointed to the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals by former President George W. Bush.
“We cannot stamp Meadows’ legal opinion that the president’s chief of staff has unfettered authority,” Pryor added.
Mark Meadows has received a blow in his efforts to reduce Georgia’s subversive election case. A conservative judge examined his attorney’s rationale for moving the case. AP
Meadows’ team appears to believe the federal court system would be a better arena to deal with the two felony charges brought against him.
If the appeals panel allows him to move the case, his legal team will likely seek to overturn the charges by making a federal immunity claim that he was just doing his government job.
Also underlying the effort is the fact that presidential pardons cannot be extended to state convictions, meaning that if President Donald Trump wins back the White House in 2024, he cannot overturn the Fulton County charges.
Donald Trump has also been charged in the Fulton County case. AFP via Getty Images Mark Meadows was photographed after being charged with the two crimes. via REUTERS
The appeals panel ruled 3-0 against Meadows’ insistence on moving. Pryor is joined by Circuit Judge Robin Rosenbaum, an Obama appointee, and Nancy Abudu, a Biden appointee.
“Basically, whatever the chief of staff’s role is with respect to the administration of state elections, that role does not include altering valid election results in favor of a particular candidate,” Pryor added.
He also ruled that the federal removal statute Meadows cited, “does not apply to former federal officials, and even if it did, the events giving rise to this criminal action were unrelated to Meadows’ official duties.”
Meadows is one of at least five defendants who have sought to move the case to federal court. He is also one of 19 people charged in the Fulton County extortion case. Five have pleaded guilty.
Meadows has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Fani Willis began his investigation in 2021 and has charged 19 individuals in the widespread 2020 election racket case. AP
If the panel greenlights Meadows’ request, it could lead to Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis’ case against several of her co-defendants, including former President Donald Trump.
In a separate development Monday, Trump’s legal team filed a challenge to dismiss Fulton County’s 13-count indictment under the argument that it undermines his First Amendment rights.
Meadows has been working with special counsel Jack Smith, who oversaw the Justice Department’s Capitol riots and 2020 election case against Trump.
There have been rumors that Meadows was granted immunity to testify under oath, but the former chief of staff counsel has downplayed the report, saying it is “largely inaccurate.”
The Post contacted Meadows’ attorney George Terwilliger III for comment.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
