Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows is seeking to have the charges against him moved to federal court, arguing that he was acting within his authority as a federal official. Meadows, along with former President Donald Trump and 17 other co-defendants, was indicted on charges of racketeering and solicitation of violation of oath in relation to their alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Meadows' attorneys filed a motion in the Northern District of Georgia arguing that the charges against him give rise to a federal defense based on his role as Chief of Staff. They claim that the actions Meadows is accused of, such as arranging Oval Office meetings and contacting state officials on behalf of the President, are part of his duties and not criminal per se.

The filing also argues that the indictment represents state interference in a federal official's duties, which is prohibited by the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Meadows intends to have his case heard in the US District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, where he plans to file a motion to dismiss the charges against him.

The charges against Meadows stem from a phone call on January 2, 2021, between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, in which Trump requested that Raffensperger “find” enough votes to overturn Biden's victory in the state. Meadows is portrayed as a go-between for Trump and others involved in coordinating efforts to contest the election and disrupt the joint session of Congress on January 6, 2021.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis announced that all parties charged in the case have until August 25 to turn themselves in voluntarily. However, it is unclear when Meadows and the other defendants will do so. Meadows' attorneys have proclaimed his innocence and accused Willis of pursuing the prosecution for political gain.

Meadows, a former Republican representative from North Carolina, has a history of involvement in Trump's efforts to overturn the election. Congressional hearings in 2021 revealed that Meadows had pressured the Justice Department to investigate baseless claims of election fraud. He also played a significant role in Trump's efforts in Georgia, attending meetings and attempting to observe an election audit.

The filings from the Fulton County district attorney's office detail Meadows' involvement in various actions related to the election. He met with Trump and others to discuss voter fraud allegations, attempted to observe an election audit in Cobb County, and contacted the chief investigator for the Georgia secretary of state's inquiry into ballot signatures.

Prosecutors have also presented evidence that Meadows set up the recorded phone call between Trump and Raffensperger, in which Trump asked the secretary of state to find enough votes to overturn the election results. Judge Robert C.I. McBurney of the Fulton County Superior Court noted that Meadows actively participated and spoke during the call.

Meadows had previously fought against testifying before the special grand jury in Georgia, but his attempt was rejected by the South Carolina Supreme Court. The court upheld the decision, stating that his arguments were without merit.

The case against Meadows and the other defendants highlights the ongoing legal battles surrounding the 2020 election and raises questions about the line between political interference and criminal actions. As the proceedings continue, further developments are expected to shed light on the extent of Meadows' involvement and his defense in the case.