A federal judge has dealt a significant blow to former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in his legal battle over the Arizona fake electors case.
The Washington Examiner reported that U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi ruled against Meadows' attempt to move his case from state to federal court. The decision means Meadows will face charges in Arizona related to an alleged scheme to overturn the 2020 election results.
An Arizona state grand jury indicted Meadows and 17 others for their alleged involvement in a plan to submit fake electors to challenge the state's 2020 election outcome. While not charged as a fake elector himself, Meadows is accused of collaborating with Trump campaign members to submit the names of fake electors from Arizona.
Meadows' legal team argued that his actions were taken in his capacity as a federal official, serving as Trump's chief of staff. They cited immunity under the Constitution's supremacy clause, establishing federal law's precedence over state law.
Judge Tuchi, however, rejected these arguments on multiple grounds. He noted that Meadows had missed the deadline to file his request for a move to federal court and failed to show good cause for the delay. Moreover, the judge disagreed with Meadows' characterization of the charges against him.
In his 15-page ruling, Judge Tuchi emphasized that the indictment goes beyond mere facilitation of communication or staying informed about campaign activities. He stated that Arizona has charged Meadows with actively orchestrating and participating in an illegal electioneering scheme.
The judge's decision means that Meadows' case will remain in the Arizona state court system. He faces nine counts and has entered a plea of not guilty to all charges.
This ruling follows a similar unsuccessful attempt by Meadows to move his election subversion charges in Georgia to federal court. The pattern suggests a challenging legal road ahead for the former White House chief of staff.
A Maricopa County judge has set a trial date for January 2026, which will be five years after the alleged crimes occurred. Notably, former President Donald Trump was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the Arizona case.
Judge Tuchi's ruling shed light on the extent of Meadows' alleged involvement in the fake elector scheme. The judge noted that Arizona prosecutors have accused Meadows of taking an active role in explaining the elector plan to Trump allies.
Furthermore, Tuchi highlighted communications between Meadows and congressional allies, including Representatives Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar of Arizona. In one instance, Meadows reportedly texted "I love it" when informed about the plan for Republican state legislatures to reject their states' votes.
The judge concluded that while Meadows' role as chief of staff involved acting as the President's gatekeeper, this did not create a causal connection between his official authority and the conduct for which he is charged.
The ruling against Mark Meadows in the Arizona fake electors case represents a significant development in the ongoing legal challenges related to the 2020 election. Judge Tuchi's decision keeps the case in state court, rejecting Meadows' arguments of federal immunity. The former White House chief of staff faces nine counts in Arizona, with a trial set for January 2026.
