Federal Appeals Court Rejects Meadows' Attempt to Move Georgia Election Interference Case

Denied Motion to Transfer Venue

On Monday, a federal appeals court rejected an effort by former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to move his Georgia election interference case to a different jurisdiction. The decision by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals keeps the case in the Northern District of Georgia, where it was originally filed.

Background of the Case

Meadows, who served as chief of staff to former President Donald Trump, is facing charges of violating Georgia election laws by allegedly pressuring election officials to overturn the results of the 2020 election. In November 2022, U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg Jones rejected Meadows' request to move the trial outside of the Northern District of Georgia, citing the need for a local jury to hear the case.

Court's Decision

The appeals court upheld Judge Jones' decision, rejecting Meadows' argument that he could not receive a fair trial in Georgia. The court found that there was "no clear and convincing evidence" that the local jury pool would be prejudiced against Meadows or that the case could not be tried fairly in the Northern District of Georgia.

Next Steps for Meadows

With the appeals court's rejection, Meadows' case will proceed in the Northern District of Georgia. His trial is currently scheduled for early 2024. Meadows has the option to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, but it is unclear if he will do so.

The election interference case against Meadows is one of several legal challenges facing the former Trump advisor. He is also facing a separate federal investigation into his role in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.