Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows has requested that the charges against him be transferred to federal court, asserting that his actions were within his authority as a federal official. Meadows, along with former President Donald Trump and 17 other co-defendants, has been indicted on charges of racketeering and solicitation of violation of oath in relation to their alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

In a motion filed by Meadows' attorneys in the Northern District of Georgia, they argue 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, including arranging Oval Office meetings and contacting state officials on behalf of the President, are part of his duties and not inherently criminal. The filing also asserts 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 depicted 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 has announced that all parties charged in the case have until August 25 to turn themselves in voluntarily. However, it remains uncertain when Meadows and the other defendants will do so.

Meadows' attorneys have maintained 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 provide detailed accounts of 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 facilitated 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 acknowledged Meadows' active participation and speaking role during the call.

Despite Meadows' previous attempts to avoid testifying before the special grand jury in Georgia, the South Carolina Supreme Court rejected his argument, upholding the decision 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. The outcome of the motion to transfer the case to federal court and the subsequent dismissal motion will likely have significant implications for the legal landscape surrounding the alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.