Mark Meadows' Bid to Move Georgia Case to Federal Court Denied by Judge
Trump's Former White House Chief of Staff Suffers Setback
Meadows Faces Racketeering Charges in State Court
ATLANTA, Georgia - A federal judge has rejected former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows' request to move his Georgia election interference case to federal court, dealing a significant setback to Meadows.
Judge Steven C. Jones of the Northern District of Georgia ruled Friday that Meadows' bid to move the case was "wholly without merit." Jones said there was no basis for moving the case and that Meadows' arguments were "specious."
Meadows, who served as Trump's chief of staff from March 2020 until January 2021, is accused of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Georgia. He faces multiple charges, including racketeering and election fraud.
Meadows' lawyers argued that the charges against him were politically motivated and that he should be tried in federal court because of his former position in the Trump administration. Jones, however, rejected those arguments, saying that Meadows was not immune from prosecution in state court.
The decision is a major setback for Meadows, who was hoping to avoid a state court trial. It is also a significant victory for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who is leading the Georgia investigation.
Willis has said she believes there is enough evidence to indict Trump himself in connection with the Georgia election interference scheme. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has called the investigation a "witch hunt."
The case is expected to go to trial in early 2024. Meadows is one of several Trump allies who have been charged in connection with the Georgia election interference. Former Trump attorney John Eastman and former Trump campaign lawyer Rudy Giuliani are also facing charges in the case.
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