Mark Meadows seeks to remove Georgia election case to federal court

Mark Meadows, former chief of staff for Donald Trump, has filed for removal of his case to federal court.

Mark Meadows and his motion

CNN reported yesterday that Mark Meadows, charged with Trump and 17 others with racketeering and attempting to challenge an election by fraudulent means, filed a notice of removal in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The former chief of staff says the conduct charged against him arose out of his duties as chief of staff.

U.S. District Judge Steve Jones scheduled a hearing for August 28 on the motion for removal, according to USA Today. He has also asked Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to testify at that hearing.

As Chief of Staff, he apparently took part in Trump’s telephone call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on January 2, 2021. Willis’ 98-page indictment charges that this telephone call was a solicitation of Raffensperger to violate his oath of office. The indictment also cites Meadows with contacting election officials in Michigan and Pennsylvania and “monitoring” an election audit.

The indictment has the basic premise that President Joe Biden beat Trump fair and square – and Trump knew it. Therefore any attempt to challenge the election constituted fraud.

How the Fulton County D.A. has any personal jurisdiction over Meadows’ meetings with Michigan or Pennsylvania officials is not clear.

Judge Jones came to the bench by nomination by President Barack H. Obama.

Court Listener has opened a docket page for federal filings in a case entitled Georgia v. Meadows.

Serving notice

Judge Jones ordered Meadows to serve the notice and the federal court order on Willis. The former chief of staff tried to serve the notice in person, but staff told him no one was present to accept it. But the office did acknowledge prior notice, of the Notice of Removal and the hearing. In fact, Meadows’ attorneys already have sent notice by email to Willis and three other attorneys in the office. Willis later acknowledged receipt of the email. Meadows’ attorneys filed a notice of all these events with Judge Jones today.

Meadows’ basic theory is that, as one acting on behalf of the President, he should be immune from any of the charges listed.