Former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows testified in court Monday that his actions related to the Georgia criminal racketeering case were part of his official duties to the former president.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is investigating Trump and his allies’ alleged attempts to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results, and Meadows is charged along with former President Donald Trump19 one of the people. The former White House chief appeared in court Monday in an attempt to move the case from state to federal court.
Meadows’ testimony on Monday lasted about three hours without any breaks, and Meadows argued that his actions related to Georgia’s 2020 election were an attack on Trump’s official role, according to ABC News. In part, he told the court, “I don’t know that I did anything that was beyond the scope of my duties as chief of staff.”
Meadows faces specific charges for his involvement in Trump’s call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Ravensperger, a key part of the Willis investigation, in which the former president asked election officials to “find” enough ballots , allowing him to win the state. He surrendered to authorities last week in the case.
Drew Angler/Getty Images
Mark Short, a former associate of Meadows and former chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence, said the argument that all actions related to the Georgia case were an “official duty” could be a “challenge” to prove in court.
“I’m not sure that Donald Trump’s chief of staff job description fits the normal chief of staff role,” Short said during an appearance on CNN’s Alex Marquardt on Monday. Tell CNN’s Alex Marquardt. “I think Mark probably did do what the president asked him to do, and I think he’s really questionable in terms of what he’s done.
“But I do think one of the challenges he’s faced is saying that’s all I’ve officially been,” Short continued. “If that’s true, then why is he circumventing all advice from the White House counsel?”
“Instead, Mark hired outside counsel that he wanted to hear,” he added. “So I think it undermines the notion that ‘it’s all part of my federal responsibility,’ if [he’s] not getting advice from someone employed [his] The Office serves the White House in this role. “
In an interview with Marquardt, Short noted that Pence’s staff was “not that involved” in Trump’s actions in Georgia after the 2020 election, adding, “As I’ve said many times, I I don’t think the actions taken were wrong, and I don’t think there’s evidence of fraud.”
Several attorneys who allegedly assisted Trump’s election scheme were also tied to the Willis racketeering case, including former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and California attorney John Eastman, who told Fulton last week County authorities surrendered.
Trump acquitted himself and his co-defendants in the Georgia case, saying everything he did to campaign for the 2020 election was legal. The former president turned himself in to authorities last Thursday over his allegations.
legal experts tell Weekly newspaper Meadows took the risk of testifying initially on Monday, as the former White House chief will be cross-examined related to his allegations.
Former U.S. Attorney Michael McAuliffe said the decision was “a very public bet that the U.S. district judge will conclude that the charges arose from his duties as chief of staff rather than his role as a Officially the role of personal assistant.” Move closer to the Trump camp, implement Trump’s wishes as an unsuccessful candidate, and change the outcome of the presidential election. “
Weekly newspaper An attorney for Meadows has been emailed for comment.
