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Mark Meadows, a former North Carolina Congressman and founder of the House Freedom Caucus, worked as Trump’s White House Chief of Staff. He is one of 19 people charged in Fulton County, GA on allegations of attempting to overturn Georgia’s 2020 presidential election. The Fulton indictment alleges that Meadows coordinated and attended meetings with Trump and others to advance a scheme to encourage election officials to overturn the election results.
This includes allegations that Meadows participated in the now-infamous call where Trump asked Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to “find” some 11,000 votes.
Background
Mark Meadows had a close relationship with Trump while he served as a member of Congress. Trump considered him a strong ally.
In early 2020, Trump appointed Meadows to replace his former Chief of Staff, Mick Mulvaney. Meadows served as Trump’s fourth and final Chief of Staff from March 2020 until the end of Trump’s presidency in January 2021.
Why was Meadows indicted?
Mark Meadows was charged in the Fulton County indictment with two felony counts:
violation of Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”) law, and
solicitation of violation of oath by a public officer.
Meadows is alleged to have engaged in multiple acts with the goal of overturning the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia. These include allegations that he:
organized communication between Trump and Georgia state officials
participated in the infamous call between Trump and GA’s Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, where Trump asks Raffensperger to “find 11,780 votes.”
traveled to Georgia to observe – despite having no official role– an official ballot signature matching review process that was closed to the public.
asked a Georgia official if “financial assistance” could speed up the signature verification process.
Fulton County Procedural Developments
Meadows moved to remove his criminal case to federal court, rather than Georgia state court where the indictment was originally filed. He has argued that his actions in the wake of the November 2020 election were a part of his responsibilities as Chief of Staff rather than political actions taken on behalf of the Trump campaign to keep Trump in office. In early September, U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones rejected Meadows’s motion. It is now pending appeal before the federal 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Oral argument on that appeal will take place on December 15, 2023.