Mark Meadows Petitions to Transfer Fulton Charges to Federal Jurisdiction

(LibertySociety.com) – Just days after Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis indicted former President Trump and 18 others for allegedly participating in a scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia, defendants have begun taking action to ensure their exoneration. Former Chief of Staff to the 45th President, Mark Meadows, immediately filed to have his case moved to a federal court. While Willis is expected to fight the request, Meadows has precedent on his side. A 1789 statute would allow Meadows’ case to be sent to a federal court if the charges stem from a crime allegedly occurring while working in his official capacity.

Meadows’ attorney’s 14-page filing argues that the charges he is facing all allegedly “occurred during his tenure and as part of his service as Chief of Staff.” Meadows was charged with allegedly violating the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and allegedly soliciting a public officer to violate their oath of office. The indictment lists several actions that Meadows took that Willis believes to be “an overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy.” She cites Meadows’ involvement with the infamous phone call between then-President Trump and Georgia Secretary of State (SOS) Brad Raffensperger, along with his visit to an audit that was underway in Cobb County, Georgia.

The indictment also detailed when Meadows contacted the chief investigator for the SOS’s office, asking if the signature verification process of the audit could be completed before the certification of the electors on January 6, 2021. Meadows’ attorneys argue that setting up meetings, taking a trip to visit a government building, communicating with state officials, and setting up phone calls for the President are not criminal acts. An August 28 hearing has already been scheduled, where Meadows will learn his fate. His attorneys indicated that they will also be filing a motion to dismiss the case altogether. Former President Trump and former Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Clark are reportedly preparing to file the same motion.