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☆ Mark Meadows fails in bid to move Georgia election case to federal court
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Jack Queen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows speaks to reporters following a television interview, outside the White House in Washington, U.S. October 21, 2020. The law allows a defendant to have their case heard in federal court if the charges against them stem from their official duties. Meadows could have faced a friendlier jury pool in federal court, which draws from a larger and more politically diverse area than Fulton County, Georgia, the Democratic stronghold where the case was filed. Moving to federal court would have also allowed Meadows to argue that he is immune from state prosecution because he was carrying out his duties as a federal official. Meadows, Trump and 17 others were charged in a sprawling indictment in August.

Persons: Mark Meadows, Al Drago, Donald Trump’s, Steve Jones, Meadows, Trump, Joe Biden, Brad Raffensperger, Prosecutors, Kanishka Singh, Jack Queen, Dan Wallis, Noeleen Organizations: White, REUTERS, U.S, District, Fulton, Democratic, Prosecutors, Electoral College, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Fulton County , Georgia, Georgia, Trump, Florida, Washington, New York

☆ Donald Trump may seek to move Georgia election case to federal court
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Jack Queen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Former U.S. President Donald Trump departs from Trump Tower to give a deposition to New York Attorney General Letitia James who sued Trump and his Trump Organization, in New York City, U.S., April 13, 2023. Trump and the other defendants were indicted on charges that they unlawfully pressured Georgia election officials to overturn Biden's election victory in the state. Steven Sadow, a lawyer for Trump, wrote in a one-page court filing, "President Trump hereby notifies the court that he may seek removal of his prosecution to federal court." Federal court could be more favorable for Trump because he would face a more politically diverse jury pool than in Fulton County, a Democratic stronghold. U.S. District Judge Steve Jones is expected to rule on the petitions to move the matter into federal court in the coming weeks.

Persons: Donald Trump, Letitia James, Trump, Mike Segar, Mark Meadows, Fani Willis, Joe Biden, Steven Sadow, Willis, Steve Jones, Scott McAfee, Kenneth Chesebro, Sidney Powell, Meadows, Kanishka Singh, Jack Queen, Will Dunham, Susan Heavey, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: U.S, Trump Tower, New York, Trump Organization, REUTERS, Rights, White, Republican, Democratic, Trump, District, Thomson Locations: New, New York City, U.S, Georgia, Fulton County, Florida, Washington, New York

Since lawyers Kenneth Chesebro and Sidney Powell have both filed speedy trial demands, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee said their trial would begin Oct. 23, but he seemed skeptical of prosecutors’ arguments that all 19 defendants could be tried together that soon. The judge said Chesebro and Powell would be tried together starting on the Oct. 23 trial date already set for Chesebro to comply with their demands for a speedy trial. Four other defendants who are also seeking to move their cases to federal court have hearings set before Jones later this month. Whenever and wherever any trial in the case ultimately takes place, jury selection is likely to be a challenge. Jury selection in a racketeering and gang case brought last year by Willis began in January and is still ongoing.

Persons: Donald Trump, Kenneth Chesebro, Sidney Powell, Scott McAfee, ”, Nathan Wade, Fani Willis, Chesebro, Powell, Scott Grubman, “, Chesebro’s, ” Chesebro, Trump, Manny Arora, She’s, Brian Rafferty, they're, Will Wooten, Mark Meadows, Steve Jones, Jones, McAfee, Willis, Willis ’, aren’t Organizations: ATLANTA, YouTube, Trump, Chesebro, Georgia Republicans, Republican, White House, U.S, District, Atlanta Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, Coffee County

Section 2 of the federal law says voting district lines can’t result in discrimination against minority voters, who must be given a chance to elect candidates of their choosing. Jones preliminarily ruled in 2022 that some parts of Georgia’s redistricting plans probably violate federal law, but the trial is needed to flesh out facts for a verdict. “The Voting Rights Act was designed for cases like this one," Lakin said. “If Georgia’s electoral system is not equally open to Black voters, what would have to change?" Tyson also renewed the state's argument that Georgia's maps were drawn to protect incumbents and to prioritize Republican majorities, motives that are legal under federal law.

Persons: Alabama's, Steve Jones, Jones preliminarily, Jones, Sophia Lin Lakin, Lakin, Bryan Tyson, Tyson, Jon Ossoff, Raphael Warnock, Joe Biden's, ” Tyson, William Cooper, Cooper, ”, Abha Khanna, Khanna Organizations: ATLANTA, U.S, Supreme, District, Republican, Assembly, ”, Black, Senate Locations: Georgia, Alabama

The state population is 27% Black, but the districts are drawn so that white voters are a majority in six of Alabama's seven congressional districts. The judges said they were reluctant to get involved in a task typically left to the states. In Georgia on Tuesday, a judge began hearing a no-jury trial on whether the GOP-controlled state legislature wrongly drew congressional and state legislative lines to dilute Black voting power. Louisiana – which has a Republican state legislature and a Democratic governor – has a population that is about one-third Black. But five of the state's six congressional districts are majority-white.

Persons: didn't, –, couldn't, Purcell, Julie Ebenstein, Ebenstein, Dan Vicuna, Steve Jones, Jones, Charles Bullock, J, Lee Marsh, Ron DeSantis Organizations: Representatives, GOP, Democratic, Peach State, Alabama, Black, Supreme, Republicans, U.S, District, University of Georgia, Leon County Circuit, voters, Florida Gov, Republican Locations: Alabama, Georgia, Peach, Black, Yellowhammer State, Florida, Leon County, In Louisiana, Louisiana, New York

☆ Fulton County judge gives green light for Trump Georgia 2020 election case to be televised
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Jason Morris | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The Fulton County, Georgia, judge overseeing the sprawling 2020 election interference racketeering case against former President Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants says that all proceedings in his courtroom related to the case will be livestreamed and allowed to be televised. The ruling, however, would be subject to change and would not apply to any portions of the case moved to federal court. In a court hearing Thursday, Superior Court of Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee, who was assigned the case, said he would make all hearings and possible trials available to be broadcast on the Fulton County Court YouTube channel. McAfee’s ruling is limited to the Fulton County state case. District Attorney Fani Willis argued in her new brief that such a finding would not be sufficient for the case to be moved.

Persons: Donald Trump, Scott McAfee, McAfee, Mark Meadows, Jeffrey Clark, Steve Jones, Jones, Meadows, Fani Willis Organizations: CNN, Superior, Fulton County Court YouTube, Trump White House, Justice, Meadows Locations: Fulton County , Georgia, Fulton County, Fulton, Meadows

Atlanta CNN —Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows rolled the dice on Monday with his opening move in the sprawling Fulton County election subversion trial: he took the stand himself. If the judge agrees, the trial could end up moving from state court to federal court, a more advantageous legal spot for Meadows. The former chief of staff also grew somewhat exasperated as the prosecutor questioned why his role would include setting up a call to settle private litigation. “There is a role for the chief of staff to make sure those campaign goals and objectives are implemented at the federal level,” Meadows argued. Meadows quipped, “I can’t imagine I would be chief of staff for President Biden.”

Persons: Mark Meadows, Meadows, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Fani Willis, Trump, it’s, ” J, Tom Morgan, “ I’m, Jack, Steve Jones, Jones, Barack Obama, Monday’s, ” Jones, CNN Meadows, wasn’t, Willis, Brad Raffensperger, Trump’s, “, ” Meadows, George Terwilliger, ” Terwilliger, John McEntee, William Barr, ”, Barr’s, Biden Organizations: Atlanta CNN — Former White House, White, Meadows, US, CNN, Georgia, Trump, Trump White House Locations: Fulton County, Meadows, Atlanta, DeKalb County , Georgia, Fulton, Cobb County , Georgia, United States, ”, Lafayette Park, Georgia

State law would still apply if the case is moved to federal court. The federal officer removal law protects people from state prosecution for carrying out official federal duties. It says that if a person were carrying out duties placed on them by federal law, they cannot be prosecuted for committing a state crime. Legal experts said Jones could allow the case to proceed in federal court and address immunity at a later hearing. If he determines immunity did not apply to the accused actions, the jury trial would take place in federal court, with the broader jury pool.

Persons: Mark Meadows, Al Drago, Donald Trump, Trump's, Meadows, firebrand Marjorie Taylor Greene, Joe Biden, —, Jeffrey Clark, Trump, Eric Segall, Fani Willis, Willis, Georgia's, Alvin Hellerstein, Steve Jones, Josh Blackman, Jones, Tom Hals, Noeleen Walder, Amy Stevens, Stephen Coates Organizations: White, REUTERS, Fulton County Superior Court, Trump, Department of Justice, Republican, Northern District of, Georgia State College of Law, Miami . Fulton, Prosecutors, U.S, U.S . Constitution, Circuit, Appeals, District, South Texas College of Law, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Fulton County, Meadows, Shafer, Northern District, Northern District of Georgia, New York, Washington, Miami ., Miami . Fulton County, Georgia, United States, U.S ., Manhattan's, Atlanta, Wilmington , Delaware

This will be the first time that substantive arguments will be made in court about the four criminal cases brought against Trump this year. While he may still face an uphill battle to move his case, Meadows is “uniquely situated” in Willis’ case, said Steve Vladeck, a CNN analyst and professor at the University of Texas School of Law. The orders the judge has already issued have hewed tightly to the relevant statutes and case law, and he has moved the proceedings along efficiently. According to the grand jury indictment, Meadows arranged a call between Trump and Watson, and texted Watson himself to offer Trump campaign funding toward speeding up a ballot review in Fulton County. Willis also subpoenaed two lawyers who were on the Trump-Raffensperger phone call on Trump’s behalf: Kurt Hilbert and Alex Kaufman.

Persons: Fani Willis, Donald Trump, Mark Meadows, Fulton, Willis, Trump, Brad Raffensperger, Meadows, David Shafer, Cathy Latham, Willis ’, Steve Vladeck, ” Vladeck, Steve Jones, Jones, absented, ”, Lee Kovarsky, ” Kovarsky, Obama, Vladeck, Frances Watson, Watson, texted Watson, Kurt Hilbert, Alex Kaufman, “, Elliot Williams, ’ Organizations: CNN, White, Trump, Georgia, Georgia Republican, University of Texas School of Law, Meadows, Staff, University of Texas, Justice Department Locations: Fulton County, Georgia, Meadows, Trump’s New York, Manhattan, Atlanta

☆ Analysis: Trump allies' push to move Georgia subversion trial could mean delays
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Tom Hals | Thomson Reuters | Tom Hals Is An Award-Winning Reporter With Years Of Experience Working In Asia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

No defendants have entered a plea in the Georgia case. The federal officer removal law protects people from state prosecution for carrying out official federal duties. Legal experts said the accused acts in the Georgia case are more plausibly related to official duties than the hush money payments in the New York case. Legal experts said Jones could allow the case to proceed in federal court and address immunity at a later hearing. If he determines immunity did not apply to the accused actions, the jury trial would take place in federal court, with the broader jury pool.

Persons: Donald Trump, Ray Smith, Rudy Giuliani, Jenna Ellis, Sidney Powell, Cathy Latham, Trump's, Mark Meadows, Meadows, firebrand Marjorie Taylor Greene, Joe Biden, Jeffrey Clark, David Shafer, Trump, Eric Segall, Fani Willis, Willis, Georgia's, Alvin Hellerstein, Steve Jones, Josh Blackman, Jones, Tom Hals, Noeleen Walder, Amy Stevens, Stephen Coates Organizations: Trump, Georgia Republican, Fulton County Superior Court, of Justice, Republican, Northern District of, Georgia State College of Law, Miami . Fulton, Prosecutors, U.S, U.S . Constitution, Circuit, Appeals, District, South Texas College of Law, Thomson Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, Meadows, Shafer, Northern District, Northern District of Georgia, New York, Washington, Miami ., Miami . Fulton County, United States, U.S ., Manhattan's, Atlanta, Wilmington , Delaware

☆ Judge denies Trump ex-chief Mark Meadows' bid to avoid arrest in Georgia election case
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The motion also proposed a second option: that the federal court could simply issue an order barring Willis from arresting Meadows prior to next week's hearing. The order from Judge Steve Jones in U.S. District Court in Atlanta came shortly after Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis urged the judge to reject Meadows' request. A judge on Wednesday denied former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows' bid to quickly move the Georgia election interference case to federal court in order to avoid arrest . I gave 2 weeks for people to surrender themselves to the court," Willis wrote in an email Tuesday morning. Earlier Wednesday, Kenneth Chesebro, another co-defendant in the Georgia case, filed a motion in Fulton County Superior Court demanding a speedy trial.

Persons: Mark Meadows, Meadows, Jones, Willis, Donald Trump, Steve Jones, Fani Willis, Joe Biden's, Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, John Eastman, Trump, Brad Raffensperger, Kenneth Chesebro Organizations: GOP, 118th, Washington , D.C, Court, White House, State, New, New York City, Trump, Georgia Locations: Washington ,, Meadows, Fulton County, U.S, Atlanta, Georgia, State of Georgia, New York

☆ Mark Meadows and Jeffrey Clark can’t avoid arrest in Georgia election subversion case, judge rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Tierney Sneed | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A federal judge on Wednesday rejected efforts by former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and ex-Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark to avoid arrest if they fail to turn themselves in by Friday’s deadline in the Georgia election subversion case. US District Judge Steve Jones declined the emergency requests by Meadows and Clark, who are both trying to move Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ prosecution to federal court. Meadows argued he should be allowed to avoid processing in the Fulton County election subversion case that has been brought against former President Donald Trump and 18 others ahead of a hearing scheduled Monday. Such rulings would require state court proceedings for entire case – for all the defendants – to automatically be paused and moved to federal court, Clark argued in court filings earlier this week. She submitted to the federal court a state court ruling during those proceedings that described the special grand jury as criminal in nature.

Persons: Mark Meadows, Jeffrey Clark, Steve Jones, Fani Willis, Meadows, Donald Trump, ” Jones, Jones, Willis, ” Willis ’, Clark, Defendant Clark, ” Willis, ’ Willis, “, –, Trump, Brad Raffensperger, ” Organizations: CNN, Trump White House, Justice, Fulton County Authorities, Staff, Trump, Georgia, White House Locations: Georgia, Meadows, Clark, Fulton County, Fulton, United States, Atlanta, Trump, ’, enjoin

☆ Trump may try to move the Fulton County criminal case to federal court. Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Devan Cole | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The former president is also expected to try to move the case to federal court, according to multiple sources familiar with his legal team’s thinking. Successfully transferring their cases to federal court could provide some key advantages. Should the case actually go to trial in the federal court, Trump and Meadows or others could end up with a jury pool more sympathetic than the one they might get from around Atlanta, where the state courthouse for this case is based. Trump and Meadows could also argue in federal court that they are protected because their efforts were part of their official duties as president and White House chief of staff, respectively. He’s citing a federal law that allows civil action or criminal prosecution to be removed to federal court if the lawsuit or prosecution relates to conduct performed “under color” of a US office or agency.

Persons: Mark Meadows, Donald Trump, Georgia’s, Fani Willis, Trump, Willis –, “, ”, Andrew Fleischman, Meadows, Steve Vladeck, Clark Cunningham, ” Willis, Willis, Willis ’, ” He’s, Brad Raffensperger, Raffensperger, Steve Jones, Barack Obama, Rudy Giuliani –, –, ” Giuliani Organizations: CNN, White House, US, District of, Trump, CNN Supreme, University of Texas School of Law, Appeals, Georgia State University, White, Georgia, Staff, Meadows, “ Locations: Fulton County , Georgia, District of Georgia, Trump, Meadows, Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia’s, Georgia, Fulton, Cobb County , Georgia, United States, New York

☆ Meadows trying to move Fulton County case to federal court
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Tierney Sneed | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows is seeking to move the Fulton County, Georgia, prosecution against him to federal court so that he can try to get the case dismissed under federal law. Meadows’ request would not move the entirety of District Attorney Fani Willis’ case to federal court. Trump, who faces 13 charges, is also expected to try to move the case to federal court, according to multiple sources familiar with the legal team’s thinking. The law says that criminal actions brought in state court may be “removed” to federal court if the prosecution relates to conduct performed “under color” of a US office or agency. But in the meantime, Meadows argued that the federal court should move the charges out of state court, and into federal court, effectively halting the state-level proceedings against him.

Persons: Mark Meadows, Meadows, Donald Trump’s, Trump, Fani Willis, Rudy Giuliani –, –, Jeffrey Clark, ” Willis, Steve Jones, Barack Obama Organizations: CNN, Trump White House, Court, Northern, Northern District of, Trump, “, Justice, US Locations: Fulton County , Georgia, Northern District, Northern District of Georgia, Georgia, Fulton, Meadows

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