Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows faced a setback on Monday as a judge ruled that his “fake electors” case must remain in Arizona. Meadows is one of 18 people charged in an alleged scheme to help former President Donald Trump overturn the 2020 election results in Arizona and other swing states.
Despite attempts by Meadows’s legal team to move the case to federal court, citing immunity under the supremacy clause of the Constitution, U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi denied the request. Tuchi emphasized that Meadows missed the deadline to file his request and failed to provide a valid reason for the delay.
Arizona prosecutors have accused Meadows of orchestrating and participating in an illegal electioneering scheme, involving manipulation of electors and communication with Trump allies like Reps. Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar. The judge’s ruling means that Meadows will now face the nine counts against him in Arizona, with a trial date set for January 2026.
This latest development adds another chapter to the ongoing legal saga surrounding Meadows and the alleged election subversion efforts, with Trump named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Arizona case.