Is Trump's Decision To Keep Election Case In Georgia State Court A Setback For Mark Meadows?

In recent developments, ex-President Donald Trump has decided against moving his Georgia election racketeering case from state to federal court, according to a legal document filed by his attorney on Thursday. This comes on the heels of a similar unsuccessful bid by his former chief of staff, Mark Meadows, to shift his case to federal court.

What Happened: The New York Times reported on Thursday that Trump and 18 of his advisers and allies were indicted by a grand jury in August, following two and a half year long investigation led by Fulton County district attorney, Fani Willis, into election interference. Trump’s choice to keep the case in the state court implies that any subsequent trial will be broadcasted, a scenario that would not have been possible in a federal court.

Earlier this month, a federal judge declined Meadows’ request to move his case to federal court. Meadows has appealed this decision, but this has reduced the chances of a successful removal by other defendants, including Jeffrey Clark, a former Justice Department official, and three Georgia Republicans who allegedly submitted false Electoral College votes for Trump in December 2020.

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With all 19 defendants in the racketeering case being charged with participating in a “criminal organization” to overturn Trump’s 2020 Georgia election defeat, it appears more likely that Trump will face trial in Fulton County Superior Court. Scott McAfee will preside over this case, but the timeline for Trump’s trial remains unclear.

Why It Matters: This decision by Trump follows several notable developments in the case. In early September, Mark Meadows pleaded not guilty to the Georgia election subversion case, along with two other Trump allies. Later that month, Trump expressed hope that Meadows remains “loyal” to him amidst the racketeering indictment.

Earlier, in August, a U.S. District Court judge denied Meadows’ attempt to prevent his arrest in the Georgia election interference case and to transfer the case to federal court. With Trump now choosing to keep his case in the state court, it adds another layer of complexity to the legal battles faced by the former President and his allies.

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