Judge Denies Request by Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows to Move Case
Federal Court Upholds Georgia Racketeering Charges
Atlanta, December 16, 2023
A federal judge has denied a request by former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to move his upcoming trial for racketeering charges from Georgia to Washington, D.C. The charges stem from Meadows' alleged involvement in attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.
In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell stated that there was no evidence to support Meadows' claim that he would not receive a fair trial in Georgia. Howell also noted that the majority of the witnesses in the case reside in Georgia, making it more convenient for the trial to be held there.
Meadows' legal team had argued that the case should be moved to Washington, D.C., because of the intense media attention surrounding the trial and the potential for bias among Georgia jurors. However, Judge Howell ruled that these concerns were not sufficient to justify a change of venue.
The racketeering charges against Meadows are part of a broader investigation by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis into efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to subvert the 2020 election results in Georgia. Meadows has denied any wrongdoing and has said that he is confident that he will be exonerated.
The trial is scheduled to begin on January 23, 2024. Meadows faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
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