Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows has hit another wall in his persistent attempt to relocate his Georgia election interference case to federal court. Meadows, who served under former President Donald Trump, is facing charges related to a scheme aimed at subverting the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has once again denied Meadows' request, affirming the earlier judgment that his case should proceed in state court, FOX 5 Atlanta reported.
In a blow to Meadows, who was trying to considerably shift his case via the Federal Officer Removal Statute, the court's denial was terse, offering no elaboration beyond stating that, "The Petition for Rehearing En Banc is DENIED." Meadows contended that his actions belonged within the purview of federal duties. But his argument for federal protection has been repeatedly struck down, leaving him with the prospective route of seeking Supreme Court intervention, as detailed by WSB-TV.
Meadows along with Trump and 17 others have pleaded not guilty to the charges that stem from what authorities describe as a concerted effort to illegally keep Trump in office despite losing to Joe Biden. These charges include the violation of Georgia’s RICO Act and solicitation to violate the oath of a public officer. Meadows' claim that his actions were in line with his White House duties has not swayed the judicial assessments to date.
With the Rehearing En Banc petition off the table, Meadows' team may yet decide to try to take their appeal all the way to the top. Meanwhile, key defendants like Kenneth Chesebro, Sidney Powell, Jenna Ellis, and Scott Hall have agreed to plea deals to testify against their former co-conspirators, which could potentially tighten the legal knot around Meadows and others who are holding out against the charges, WSB-TV confirms.
