A federal judge on Monday refused Donald Trumpthe former chief of staff Mark Meadows‘ attempt to move his 2020 Arizona election fraud case to federal court. Meadows had argued that his actions in Arizona were within his “official duties” as a Trump aide.
The former White House chief of staff was indicted earlier this year along with 17 other Trump allies for their efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election in several states where President Joe Biden won the popular vote. In Arizona, judges said Meadows worked with members of the Trump campaign to submit names of fake voters in an attempt to certify a false victory for Trump.
U.S. District Judge John Tuchi said Meadow’s charges, which include conspiracy and forgery, were completely “unrelated” to his official duties as chief of staff, making his argument for the case to be moved irrelevant. He also noted that Meadows’ “untimely” request had passed the deadline to move a case to federal court.
“Even if the Court believes Mr. Meadows’ theory that the Chief of Staff is responsible for acting as the President’s guardian, this conclusion does not create a causal nexus between Mr. Meadows’ official authority and the conduct accused”, Tuchi wrote in the 15 page sentence.
“Mr. Meadows did not so much remove the State’s charge, but rewrite it,” he added.
In August 2023, Meadows was indicted on similar charges for his election subversion efforts in Georgia, where President Joe Biden won by 12,670 votes.
Meadows also tried to move that case, but a judge denied his request in September 2023.