Mark Meadows seeks federal court for Arizona elector case hearing

Mark Meadows, former chief of staff to Donald Trump, is seeking to move his case related to the Arizona fake elector scheme from state court to federal court. Although he is not charged as a fake elector, prosecutors allege that he collaborated with Trump campaign members to submit false elector names to Congress in an effort to overturn the 2020 election results. Meadows argues that his actions were conducted in his capacity as a federal official, claiming immunity under the supremacy clause of the Constitution, which prioritizes federal law over state law. The hearing for Meadows's request is scheduled for Thursday, with his legal team asserting that the allegations against him do not constitute criminal behavior. They argue that his communications were part of his duties as a federal official and that state interference in these duties is prohibited by the Constitution. In contrast, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has urged the court to keep the case within the state jurisdiction. The legal landscape surrounding the fake elector scheme is complex, with 18 Republicans charged in Arizona, including those who submitted false documents claiming Trump won the state. Meadows faces similar charges in Georgia, where Trump also attempted to move his case to federal court unsuccessfully. The trial date for the Arizona case has been set for January 2026, nearly five years after the alleged offenses occurred. As the legal proceedings unfold, other defendants in the case have taken plea deals, with some cooperating with prosecutors. The outcome of Meadows's request to shift the case to federal court could have significant implications for the ongoing investigations into the actions of Trump campaign officials during the 2020 election.