Judge Rejects Mark Meadows’ Attempt To Transfer Case To Federal Court

Former Trump aide Mark Meadows has failed to move his Arizona fake elector case to federal court.

At a Glance

U.S. District Judge John Tuchi rejected Mark Meadows’ request to transfer his Arizona fake elector case to federal court.
Meadows faces charges in Arizona and Georgia for his alleged conduct related to the 2020 election.
The judge cited Meadows’ missed deadline and failure to demonstrate that the charges were related to his official duties as Trump’s chief of staff.
This decision returns Meadows’ case to Maricopa County Superior Court, where he has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Meadows’ Failed Attempt to Move Case

In a significant setback for former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, a federal judge has denied his request to transfer the Arizona fake elector case to federal court. U.S. District Judge John Tuchi rejected Meadows’ bid, citing his failure to meet the filing deadline and inability to show that the charges were related to his official duties under the Trump administration.

The ruling means that Meadows’ case will remain in Maricopa County Superior Court, where he faces multiple felony charges related to the 2020 election. This development mirrors a similar failed attempt by Meadows to move his Georgia charges to federal court, highlighting the mounting legal challenges he faces in multiple states.

A judge has denied a request from Mark Meadows, who was Donald Trump’s White House chief of staff, to move the Arizona election-subversion-related prosecution against him from state court to federal court. https://t.co/h98Ut9STci

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) September 17, 2024

Charges and Allegations

Meadows, along with 17 other defendants including Rudy Giuliani and Boris Epshteyn, was indicted by an Arizona state grand jury for his alleged conduct related to the 2020 election. The charges stem from accusations that Meadows participated in organizing false Republican electors’ votes in Arizona and six other states.

“The State has not indicted Mr. Meadows for merely facilitating communication to and from the President or for simply staying abreast of campaign goings-on. Instead, the State has indicted Mr. Meadows for allegedly orchestrating and participating in an illegal electioneering scheme,” the judge said.

The Arizona indictment claims that Meadows knew Trump had lost the election but nonetheless arranged meetings and calls related to the fake elector conspiracy. Each defendant faces nine felony counts, including conspiracy, forgery, and fraudulent schemes. Meadows has pleaded not guilty to all charges in both Arizona and Georgia.

Implications for Trump and Other Defendants

Legal analysts suggest that Meadows’ court loss could have broader implications for Trump’s own legal battles. The rejection of Meadows’ argument that his actions were part of his official duties may set a precedent that could affect Trump’s claims of presidential immunity in related cases.

The case against Meadows and other defendants in Arizona is part of a larger pattern of legal actions related to the 2020 election. Prosecutors in Michigan, Nevada, Georgia, and Wisconsin have also filed charges connected to the fake electors scheme.