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Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Relentless negativity is not a sign that you are more realistic.

Teach a man to fish, and he’ll sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

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The willow is too close to the house.

Not so fun when the rabbit gets the gun, is it?

Giving in to doom is how we fail to fight for ourselves & one another.

One lie, alone, tears the fabric of reality.

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

Damn right I heard that as a threat.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

If rights aren’t universal, they are privilege, not rights.

“The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.”

Republicans firmly believe having an abortion is a very personal, very private decision between a woman and J.D. Vance.

Imperialist aggressors must be defeated, or the whole world loses.

The republican caucus is covering themselves with something, and it is not glory.

Bad people in a position to do bad things will do bad things because they are bad people. End of story.

Giving up is unforgivable.

Stamping your little feets and demanding that they see how important you are? Not working anymore.

The rest of the comments were smacking Boebert like she was a piñata.

Come on, media. you have one job. start doing it.

This is dead girl, live boy, a goat, two wetsuits and a dildo territory.  oh, and pink furry handcuffs.

The low info voters probably won’t even notice or remember by their next lap around the goldfish bowl.

If ‘weird’ was the finish line, they ran through the tape and kept running.

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You are here: Home / Politics / Trump Indictments / Mark Meadows Loses His Bid to Move to Federal Court

Mark Meadows Loses His Bid to Move to Federal Court

by WaterGirl|  September 8, 20236:16 pm| 133 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Politics, Trump Indictments

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Mark Meadows attempt to move to Federal Court FAILS!

That means we get to see his trial.  And more, of course.  This gives me hope.

Trump was waiting to see what happened with Meadows.  This can’t look like a good outcome for Trump.

Mark Meadows will face the music in Fulton County…not federal court. https://t.co/fvnuRlwb4x

— Jack E. Smith ⚖️ (@7Veritas4) September 8, 2023

PDF File of the ruling.

Open thread.

Update:

Trump’s pending motion to move his case to federal court right now: pic.twitter.com/Fp7qHqIR2b

— Jack E. Smith ⚖️ (@7Veritas4) September 8, 2023

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Reader Interactions

133Comments

  1. 1.

    SuzieC

    September 8, 2023 at 6:19 pm

    Woot Woot!  Television, baby!

  2. 2.

    cain

    September 8, 2023 at 6:21 pm

    FAFO season has started with a bang!

    ETA #2!!

  3. 3.

    hells littlest angel

    September 8, 2023 at 6:23 pm

    How did America get sick of right-wing bullshit?

    Gradually, then suddenly.

  4. 4.

    trollhattan

    September 8, 2023 at 6:24 pm

    Donny can’t do shit for him if he’s convicted in state court, yes?
    Suck it, cowboy.

  5. 5.

    Scout211

    September 8, 2023 at 6:24 pm

    He didn’t even meet the “quite low threshold.”  Ha Ha Ha. Huh, you mean trying to overturn an election using a corrupt conspiracy is not one of the duties of the COS?
    And his testimony is on record.

    CNN US District Court Judge Steve Jones wrote in the decision that Meadows had not met even the “‘quite low’ threshold for removal” to federal court, because his activities for the Trump campaign were outside the scope of his federal role as White House chief of staff.

    “The Court finds that the color of the Office of the White House Chief of Staff did not include working with or working for the Trump campaign, except for simply coordinating the President’s schedule, traveling with the President to his campaign events, and redirecting communications to the campaign,” Jones wrote. “Thus, consistent with his testimony and the federal statutes and regulations, engaging in political activities is exceeds the outer limits of the Office of the White House Chief of Staff.”

  6. 6.

    hilts

    September 8, 2023 at 6:26 pm

    Get ready for plenty of rage truth socialing from Trump on the toilet all through the night.

  7. 7.

    zhena gogolia

    September 8, 2023 at 6:27 pm

    @Scout211: The “outer limits.” We control the vertical, we control the horizontal

  8. 8.

    WaterGirl

    September 8, 2023 at 6:27 pm

    @trollhattan: As I understand it, even if the cases move to Federal Court, they still can’t be pardoned by a president.

    But this is 10x better than federal court b/c its televised.

  9. 9.

    frosty

    September 8, 2023 at 6:28 pm

    WaterGirl – Here’s your Friday cake-baking news. You called it earlier today!

  10. 10.

    WaterGirl

    September 8, 2023 at 6:29 pm

    @frosty: Not exactly an indictment but I’ll take it!  I thought something would break today.

    And I hoped it wouldn’t be our democracy.

  11. 11.

    Alison Rose

    September 8, 2023 at 6:30 pm

    @WaterGirl: Yes, even if it were moved, it’s still a state crime and affected by state law, so there would not be a federal pardon.

    I just saw Neal Katyal on MSNBC note that the language of the ruling seems to say that no other such attempts would be successful either, that the judge was sort of telling all of them not to try it.

  12. 12.

    Scout211

    September 8, 2023 at 6:33 pm

    @Alison Rose: This is from the NBC News online article:

    To date, five of the 19 defendants in the DA’s case have moved to have their case heard in federal court. In a court filing this week, Trump said he might move to do so as well. Under court-ordered deadlines, he has until the end of this month to decide, according to the filing.

    Jones said in Friday’s ruling that his decision does not impact the pending removal efforts of the other four defendants.

    ETA:  added a paragraph

  13. 13.

    smith

    September 8, 2023 at 6:34 pm

    Repeating from the thread below–

    The judge’s decision looks really thorough (but IANAL). The only bit of Meadows’ actions the judge thought was related to his federal role was when Meadows asked someone for contact info for an official in PA. I’m guessing that this was in the context of messing around with fake electors, but maybe that context wasn’t stated. Anyway, this doesn’t bode well for any of the defendants who had federal jobs:

    As a senior official in the executive branch, therefore, Meadows cannot have acted in his role as a federal officer with respect to any efforts to influence, interfere with, disrupt, oversee, or change state elections: those activities are expressly delegated to the States.

  14. 14.

    WaterGirl

    September 8, 2023 at 6:35 pm

    @Scout211: Hmm.

    But it does tell them that if what they were doing was outside the scope of their duties, they won’t find any love there.

    By which I mean, all of them.  Because as far as I know, subverting an election is not within the scope of duties – not even other duties as assigned.  :-)

  15. 15.

    LAO

    September 8, 2023 at 6:36 pm

    @WaterGirl: You are correct.

  16. 16.

    smith

    September 8, 2023 at 6:37 pm

    @WaterGirl: It also torpedoes the cases of the two fake electors who want to somehow style themselves as quasi-federal officials.

  17. 17.

    Wyatt Salamanca

    September 8, 2023 at 6:38 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    The jury pool is also more favorable to the prosecution by keeping the case out of federal court.

  18. 18.

    Dangerman

    September 8, 2023 at 6:39 pm

    They will call him Flipper, Flipper, faster than lightning,
    No one you see, is dumber than he,
    And we know Flipper, lives in a world full of wonder,
    Flying there under, under the sea!

  19. 19.

    WaterGirl

    September 8, 2023 at 6:41 pm

    @smith: yep. This is a good day for the rule of law.

  20. 20.

    LAO

    September 8, 2023 at 6:42 pm

    I guess there is a consequence to ignoring the Hatch Act. Crazy.

  21. 21.

    WaterGirl

    September 8, 2023 at 6:42 pm

    I would think for this ruling Meadows would have to be thinking. It doesn’t look good for him to get immunity, which was his biggest goal as I understand it, hoping to get the whole thing thrown out.

  22. 22.

    WaterGirl

    September 8, 2023 at 6:43 pm

    @LAO: “nobody cares about the hatch act.”

    I can’t remember who said that, but I’m glad to see them proven wrong.

  23. 23.

    LAO

    September 8, 2023 at 6:43 pm

    @Dangerman: I don’t know, it seems fairly clear Meadows perjured himself during the hearing. I’m not sure he hasn’t disqualified himself as a potential cooperator.

  24. 24.

    Ken

    September 8, 2023 at 6:43 pm

    @smith: Pity, that. I’ll need to rethink my plan to impersonate a federal official to get those unpaid parking tickets cancelled. Maybe if I pretend to be a diplomat….

  25. 25.

    WaterGirl

    September 8, 2023 at 6:45 pm

    @LAO: Yep!

  26. 26.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    September 8, 2023 at 6:45 pm

    Whomp-Whomp!

  27. 27.

    zhena gogolia

    September 8, 2023 at 6:45 pm

    @WaterGirl: Kellyanne Conway.

  28. 28.

    Scout211

    September 8, 2023 at 6:45 pm

    @LAO: Question for you.  Will Fani Willis be able to use Meadows’ testimony from this hearing as evidence in the RICO case?  He all but confessed to following Trump’s orders to engage in the conspiracy.

  29. 29.

    WaterGirl

    September 8, 2023 at 6:46 pm

    I think I had mentioned that I’ve been on pins and needles waiting to see what would happen with Meadows. So this feels like a big Joe Biden deal to me.

  30. 30.

    Anonymous At Work

    September 8, 2023 at 6:47 pm

    Meadows’ trial will be with Cheesey-bro and The Kraken Karen, since I think he requested a speedy trial.

    I think Cheesey-bro and Meadow’s primary trial strategy is to show up with “I’m with stupid” t-shirts and arrows pointing at Sidney Powell.

  31. 31.

    RepubAnon

    September 8, 2023 at 6:48 pm

    @WaterGirl: In other words, blatant violations of the Hatch Act are, as a matter of law, outside the scope of a federal employee’s duties…

    Nice to see laws actually applied to the facts.

  32. 32.

    Alison Rose

    September 8, 2023 at 6:49 pm

    I keep seeing that clip of Navarro whining outside the courtroom about “they put me in handcuffs and they put me in leg irons” and it just makes me think of this and then I laugh at him even more.

  33. 33.

    SpaceUnit

    September 8, 2023 at 6:49 pm

    These clowns are about to learn that their Fox News bullshit ain’t gonna play in a court of law.

    Reminds me of when those three inbred goobers that murdered Ahmaud Arbery tried to claim they were victims of a woke mob.  Lady Justice is a cold hard bitch.

  34. 34.

    wjca

    September 8, 2023 at 6:50 pm

    @Scout211:

    Jones said in Friday’s ruling that his decision does not impact the pending removal efforts of the other four defendants.

    Which would seem to mean that they, like Meadows, can testify at length, and under oath.  Both incriminating themselves and providing evidence against TIFG.  And then get turned done.

  35. 35.

    Anonymous At Work

    September 8, 2023 at 6:51 pm

    @Scout211: Yes. Subject to Hearsay objections, though.  Will seriously hamper Meadows’ defenses and others that want to plant blame on Meadows indirectly.

    I doubt Meadows or the others will testify in the main case, though.  But this was a major blow against their possible defenses.  The state electors are questionable as federal officials since they are the state’s electors.  Meadows had the best chance and he lost.

  36. 36.

    dr. bloor

    September 8, 2023 at 6:51 pm

    @smith: His request for input from both sides re: splitting some of the charges suggested a nuanced decision that Meadows barely deserved.  Happily, the principle that “if it’s illegal, it’s not part of your job” has survived this round of judiciary Jeopardy.

  37. 37.

    Scout211

    September 8, 2023 at 6:51 pm

    @wjca:Which would seem to mean that they, like Meadows, can testify at length, and under oath.  Both incriminating themselves and providing evidence against TIFG.  And then get turned done.

    That was my thinking.

  38. 38.

    Ken

    September 8, 2023 at 6:51 pm

    @Anonymous At Work:

    “Your honor, I was misled by this seductress into committing an illegal act!”

    “I had a guy here last week for robbing a convenience store who said the same thing. Didn’t help. By the way, you realize you just confessed to conspiracy, again?”

  39. 39.

    LAO

    September 8, 2023 at 6:52 pm

    @Scout211: That’s an excellent question.  I’m not sure what Georgia evidentiary rules are but my gut (applying NY law) is no because it’s not a “statement in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy “ but his testimony would be admissible against Meadows himself.

    I’m sure greater legal minds will appear and hopefully provide their insight

    ETA: statements in furtherance of the conspiracy are NOT hearsay.

  40. 40.

    Dangerman

    September 8, 2023 at 6:55 pm

    @LAO: I don’t know, it seems fairly clear Meadows perjured himself during the hearing.

    He hears the train a-comin’, it’s rolling ’round the bend
    And he ain’t seen the sunshine since he don’t know when
    He’s stuck in Fulton County prison, and time keeps draggin’ on

  41. 41.

    HumboldtBlue

    September 8, 2023 at 6:57 pm

    Someone is NOT happy.

    “The group suing me in Colorado to ridiculously try and Unconstitutionally keep me off the ballot (I am leading against DeSanctimonious by almost 50 points, and beating Crooked Joe, BIG!), is TRUMP DERANGED ‘CREW,’ composed of many slime balls & groups like Norm Eisen through Brookings or Just Security, Andrew Weissmann, Joyce Vance, et al. They are, perhaps illegally, working with Weissmann acolyte Lisa Monaco at ‘Injustice.’ I have been beating them for years, including Impeachments. MAGA!!!” wrote the ex-president, who is now facing 91 felony charges in four criminal indictments across three jurisdictions.

    “Crew also sued me on emoluments at my recently sold, and very beautiful, D.C. hotel, and LOST BIG,” Trump continued, via his Truth Social website. “These are bad Radical Left people and groups that use the Injustice Department as though it were their own. Lisa Monaco does whatever they tell her to do. They play her like a fiddle. So bad for our once great Country. They will have major liability for what they are doing to America! It is, working with Deranged Jack Smith & others, ELECTION INTERFERENCE at a level never seen before. MAGA!”

  42. 42.

    catclub

    September 8, 2023 at 6:58 pm

    @Scout211: ​
      That is without even mentioning that supervising elections is NOT a proper part of the executive branch.

  43. 43.

    Martin

    September 8, 2023 at 6:58 pm

    @Alison Rose: I had to deal with him all the fucking time in my job and there were few more entitled assholes among the faculty than he was. I am savoring this moment more than I should.

  44. 44.

    WaterGirl

    September 8, 2023 at 7:00 pm

    @HumboldtBlue: boy, it’s really hard for me to believe that Trump knows who just security is who Lisa Monaco is who Andrew Weissmann is… all of those people. I think he’s being said names by somebody.

  45. 45.

    SpaceUnit

    September 8, 2023 at 7:00 pm

    @HumboldtBlue:

    Yep.  That’s the sound of desperation.

     

    And fear.

  46. 46.

    catclub

    September 8, 2023 at 7:01 pm

    I think there was a report that the Grand Jury wanted to indict Lindsey Graham and the two ex-senators from Georgia in the conspiracy. But Willis did not do it.

    I haz a sad.

  47. 47.

    Alison Rose

    September 8, 2023 at 7:02 pm

    @HumboldtBlue: God, what a whiny little bitch this man is. How do his supporters think this is impressive? He sounds like toddler being put on time out.

  48. 48.

    Martin

    September 8, 2023 at 7:03 pm

    @catclub: She can still indict. Let’s see who flips.

  49. 49.

    WaterGirl

    September 8, 2023 at 7:03 pm

    @catclub: I don’t know whether the grand jury helped determine that it would be a RICO case or if they just also thought those guys should be indicted. I’m guessing it’s the latter.

    but I wonder is is Willis could come back later and charge them separately just not as part of the RICO case.

  50. 50.

    MattF

    September 8, 2023 at 7:04 pm

    @WaterGirl: They’re on the ‘payback’ list.

  51. 51.

    Scout211

    September 8, 2023 at 7:04 pm

    @WaterGirl: I think he’s being said names by somebody.

    Pretty sure his minions do most of the shit posting for him.  He seems to shit post in all caps and they use lower case semi-appropriately.  He may be right there when they post, but I don’t think he wrote that.

  52. 52.

    WaterGirl

    September 8, 2023 at 7:04 pm

    @Martin: I see we are thinking along the same lines. I’m thinking Lindsey Graham, or a previously sitting senator, would be a good get, that should buy you some thing if you have the goods on those people.

  53. 53.

    Anonymous At Work

    September 8, 2023 at 7:04 pm

    @Ken: “I was providing intelligent advice on legal strategies that, while unconventional, did not contravene written laws.  My advice was then given to someone who, my defense team and I strongly believe, is unable to safely use silverware by herself.”

  54. 54.

    Redshift

    September 8, 2023 at 7:05 pm

    My understanding from the discussion song actual legal experts is that Meadows had the best chance of succeeding with this move. Which doesn’t mean no others will, but it seems pretty unlikely.

  55. 55.

    Dan B

    September 8, 2023 at 7:06 pm

    @Alison Rose: Willis may have thought the RICO charges were more difficult to prove for Graham and the others but there are other charges that could be brought.

  56. 56.

    smith

    September 8, 2023 at 7:06 pm

    @catclub: Yes — even if they could pretend it wasn’t political, it was still outside the scope of their duties.

  57. 57.

    WaterGirl

    September 8, 2023 at 7:06 pm

    @Scout211: that was supposed to be fed, not the word that rhymes with fed (said) that autocorrect put in there!

  58. 58.

    Anonymous At Work

    September 8, 2023 at 7:06 pm

    @LAO: I think most of what Meadows said goes to his state of mind.  The possible perjury/outright lie would demolish his credibility, if he had any, should he testify.  I don’t think there’s a furtherance of a conspiracy that cannot already be shown by “I set up the phone call that was recorded with my voice on the recording” and the like.

  59. 59.

    Scout211

    September 8, 2023 at 7:08 pm

    New filing today from Guiliani

    Any attorneys here like to comment on this pile of crap?

    Former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani filed a new legal challenge Friday against the criminal charges he’s facing in Georgia over his attempts to subvert the 2020 presidential election.

    He is asking the judge to quash the indictment, or at least to set a hearing on the matter.

    Giuliani argued in the filing that there were “deficiencies” in the indictment that rendered it invalid and that prosecutors were violating his rights against “double jeopardy” by how they structured the racketeering conspiracy allegations.

    The indictment is “a conspiratorial bouillabaisse consisting of purported criminal acts, daily activities, and constitutionally protected speech,” the filing argues.

  60. 60.

    Baud

    September 8, 2023 at 7:10 pm

    @Scout211:

    bouillabaisse?

    And they call us elitist.

  61. 61.

    LAO

    September 8, 2023 at 7:10 pm

    @Scout211: lol, it’s a loser argument.

  62. 62.

    Barbara

    September 8, 2023 at 7:11 pm

    Removal is for civil actions that could have been brought in federal court to begin with. Federal law might be a defense to a state law prosecution but using removal statute is bizarre.

  63. 63.

    WaterGirl

    September 8, 2023 at 7:11 pm

    @Baud:  Would you consider this to be the big Joe Biden deal that some of us think it is?

  64. 64.

    UncleEbeneezer

    September 8, 2023 at 7:11 pm

    Novak Djokovic once again cements his place as the biggest, non-MAGA asshole athlete alive.  He beat Ben Shelton, a 20-year old, American kid having his first big Major run at the US Open and then taunted Shelton after the match by mimicking the celebration Shelton had been doing throughout the tournament even though Shelton did nothing directed at Djokovic aside from play hard and push him to a tie-break in the third set.  Shelton is also Bi-Racial which makes Novak co-opting his antics even more gross (Black athletes in tennis have their behavior policed and criticized constantly in ways that white players don’t).

  65. 65.

    WaterGirl

    September 8, 2023 at 7:12 pm

    @LAO: is it a loser argument because Giuliani is a loser or because the argument itself is a loser? :-)

  66. 66.

    Baud

    September 8, 2023 at 7:14 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    What is this?

  67. 67.

    rikyrah

    September 8, 2023 at 7:14 pm

    Too bad, Mark😂😂😂😂

    Fani will see you in Court

  68. 68.

    MattF

    September 8, 2023 at 7:15 pm

    @Baud: ‘There’s something fishy in here’.

  69. 69.

    Baud

    September 8, 2023 at 7:15 pm

    @Barbara:

    There’s a criminal removal statute.

  70. 70.

    Anonymous At Work

    September 8, 2023 at 7:16 pm

    @WaterGirl: Deficiencies in indictment really require half-ass lawyering by prosecutors based on ultra-thin evidence that they are twisting, that anyone can see is twisting.  Like that newspaper that got raided because of butt-hurt.  Being a cultist and thinking the indictment doesn’t follow the cult’s dogma is a loser.

    Guiliani’s admission of civil liability in defamation will also hinder matters, and I wonder if that’s the double jeopardy to which he is referring (erroneously).

  71. 71.

    JWR

    September 8, 2023 at 7:16 pm

    Just now catching up on the days threads, so apologies if this has been discussed. (From The Los Angeles Times.) Now back to my blog kechup.

    The Orange Unified school board Thursday night became the sixth California school system to require notifying parents when their child identifies as transgender — a decision made after state Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against Chino schools over a similar policy.

    The vote came at the end of a long and contentious board meeting at which dozens of speakers, including many from outside the school system, testified emotionally for or against the board resolution.

    The 4-0 vote came about 11:30 p.m., after three board members opposed to the measure walked out. Their exit followed a boardroom disruption started by opponents of the resolution in the audience. It turned into a shouting match between opposing sides and a brief scuffle. Most of the yelling came from resolution supporters.

    I wish they would require that only parents with kids in the schools be allowed to speak. Maybe issue a parent photo ID. ;)

  72. 72.

    WaterGirl

    September 8, 2023 at 7:17 pm

    @Barbara: can you say more about that?

  73. 73.

    LAO

    September 8, 2023 at 7:17 pm

    @Anonymous At Work: I don’t understand what you wrote. To be clear, if Meadows testified as a government witness in the Fulton County case, his testimony as to what Trump said to him or any directions by Trump would be admissible as non hearsay statements in furtherance of the conspiracy.

    This would not apply to Meadows’ testimony in the removal hearing. But, of course his testimony from the hearing would be admissible against meadows himself, just not the other defendants.

  74. 74.

    Geminid

    September 8, 2023 at 7:18 pm

    I wonder if Trump will comment on the Meadows ruling. I’d like to know what Meadows is up to. Trump might also want to know.

  75. 75.

    Scout211

    September 8, 2023 at 7:18 pm

    On the CNN feed, they added this:

    The judge said in a footnote that his findings shouldn’t be interpreted as an opinion on “Meadows’s propensity to be truthful as a general matter.”

    LOL.  “Propensity to be truthful as a general matter” is the new “perjury.”  LOL

  76. 76.

    WaterGirl

    September 8, 2023 at 7:18 pm

    @Baud: the ruling about Meadows and state court versus federal.

  77. 77.

    LAO

    September 8, 2023 at 7:19 pm

    @WaterGirl: the argument. But Giuliani is also a loser.

  78. 78.

    Alison Rose

    September 8, 2023 at 7:20 pm

    @Dan B: I think this response was meant to be to another comment?

  79. 79.

    grumbles

    September 8, 2023 at 7:21 pm

    @Anonymous At Work:

    Meadows’ trial will be with Cheesey-bro and The Kraken Karen, since I think he requested a speedy trial.

    I believe this is officially known as the “Cheese and Crackers” trial.

    (h/t Popehat)

  80. 80.

    WaterGirl

    September 8, 2023 at 7:22 pm

    @LAO: I know, I was just being silly!

  81. 81.

    LAO

    September 8, 2023 at 7:25 pm

    @WaterGirl: I got ya. I just like calling him a loser. I can’t help myself.

  82. 82.

    WaterGirl

    September 8, 2023 at 7:29 pm

    @LAO:

    I just like calling him a loser. I can’t help myself.

    Same for me!  Hence my comment. :-)

  83. 83.

    Jackie

    September 8, 2023 at 7:30 pm

    @WaterGirl: “Alternate Facts” Kellyanne Conway.

    eta zhena gogolia beat me by a country mile. And probably countless others…

  84. 84.

    Scout211

    September 8, 2023 at 7:32 pm

    The AJC reports that the grand jury recommended 39 indictments.

    Sorry, I tried to post a nice neat chart but it didn’t post well.

    There were some interesting people recommended for indictment, like:

    The grand jury also recommended criminal indictments for former state Sen. William Ligon and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, though neither has been charged with crimes.

    . . .

    A Fulton judge last summer disqualified Willis from investigating Jones, saying the DA had a political conflict of interest. The Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia is weighing whether to appoint a special counsel to see whether Jones should face charges

    Added:  And this:

    Three of the 16 electors were ultimately charged: former Georgia GOP chairman David Shafer, state Sen. Shawn Still and former Coffee County GOP chairwoman Cathy Latham. At least eight others negotiated immunity deals with prosecutors after the special grand jury authored its report.

  85. 85.

    bbleh

    September 8, 2023 at 7:33 pm

    I assume he’ll appeal.  Wonder what 11CA will say.  IANAL, but reading the opinion it seems like he made a really conscientious effort to determine the boundaries of “color of office.”  (I like his cite of Scalia too.)  But I guess I could see other judges drawing a different line, even saying “nah, he said he thought it was part of his official duties, so gotta presume it was, end of story.”

    Still, kinda figuring there’s some new ketchup stains on some walls.

  86. 86.

    smith

    September 8, 2023 at 7:33 pm

    @Anonymous At Work: Did he? I didn’t see that, only for Cheese ‘n Crackers, with rumors that Eastman might do the same. We do still have another important ruling coming up, I think, about the trial date for the other 17. We know at least two will go early, but I don’t know that it’s yet been determined if the entire gang of 19 will be tried together.

  87. 87.

    JWR

    September 8, 2023 at 7:33 pm

    @HumboldtBlue:

    I have been beating them for years, including Impeachments. MAGA!!!

    […]

    ELECTION INTERFERENCE at a level never seen before. MAGA!”

    Writing “MAGA” is like a tic with him, isn’t it? Like a case of  uncontrollable hiccups.

  88. 88.

    Old School

    September 8, 2023 at 7:34 pm

    @Martin:

    There were few more entitled assholes among the faculty than he was.

    Atrios confirms.

  89. 89.

    Baud

    September 8, 2023 at 7:35 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    Yes, it’s a pretty big deal.

  90. 90.

    JPL

    September 8, 2023 at 7:35 pm

    @Scout211: From what I read, some of the charges the Grand Jury wanted would not work with RICO>

  91. 91.

    Mike in NC

    September 8, 2023 at 7:37 pm

    @JWR:  Somebody needs to tell Fat Bastard the impeachments were real and can never go away.

  92. 92.

    Anonymous At Work

    September 8, 2023 at 7:37 pm

    @LAO: I was thinking of trying to admit Meadow’s testimony into evidence directly against people other than Meadow’s portion of the conspiracy.  No confrontation of the witness is major foundation for Hearsay.
    And most of what Meadows said was about his own state of mind or was evidence that has an independent basis, like Raffensperger’s phone call or visiting the vote counting arena.

  93. 93.

    Mike in NC

    September 8, 2023 at 7:38 pm

    Meadows needs to do hard time. He gave up a safely gerrymandered House seat just to be Fat Bastard’s Chief Enabler. Ten years at a minimum should get his attention.

  94. 94.

    Another Scott

    September 8, 2023 at 7:38 pm

    @UncleEbeneezer: He’s also been on the side of those in Serbia who seem quite anxious to start up the war in Kosovo again.

    Amazing tennis talent, but …

    Grr…,
    Scott.

  95. 95.

    Anonymous At Work

    September 8, 2023 at 7:39 pm

    @smith: I thought?  On this, I could easily be wrong.  I thought he requested speedy trial AND removal.

    Anyone? Bueller?

  96. 96.

    WaterGirl

    September 8, 2023 at 7:41 pm

    @Jackie: @zhena gogolia:

    Just the two of you, I think!  I knew it was someone arrogant and smarmy, I just couldn’t recall who.  Thank you!

  97. 97.

    WaterGirl

    September 8, 2023 at 7:43 pm

    @Baud: Glad to hear you think so, too!

  98. 98.

    Jackie

    September 8, 2023 at 7:45 pm

    @Geminid: It’s not a matter of if, but HOW SOON!😂

    Meadows being denied removal to federal court probably sinks TIFG’s chances of being moved – should he request it.

  99. 99.

    Geminid

    September 8, 2023 at 7:49 pm

    @JPL: I hope we’ll find out more about Perdue’s and Loeffler’s roles. They needed to stay on Trump’s good side because they wanted his support in their elections, so they couldn’t hang back like Kemp and Raffensperger did.

    After getting crushed by Kemp in last year’s Governor primary, Perdue is pretty much out of politics. I saw that Kemp threw Perdue a bone by appointing him to the Stone Mountain Memorial Park board. He oughta fit right in there.

  100. 100.

    glc

    September 8, 2023 at 7:50 pm

    @WaterGirl: Meadows, as it happens. “Nobody outside of the Beltway”

  101. 101.

    WaterGirl

    September 8, 2023 at 7:56 pm

    @glc:  You are so right!

    Link

    I wonder who said it first, him or KellyAnne Conway.

  102. 102.

    zhena gogolia

    September 8, 2023 at 7:57 pm

    @WaterGirl: I thought you meant WE were arrogant and smarmy!

  103. 103.

    WaterGirl

    September 8, 2023 at 7:59 pm

    @glc: Karma is a bitch!

  104. 104.

    terraformer

    September 8, 2023 at 7:59 pm

    this is a level of winning the likes of which this country has never seen before

  105. 105.

    WaterGirl

    September 8, 2023 at 7:59 pm

    @zhena gogolia: You know I didn’t!  I would never think that.  Sorry about the poor phrasing.

  106. 106.

    Alison Rose

    September 8, 2023 at 8:06 pm

    In case you were wondering, watching your cat try to lick up a bit of wet food stuck to her nose is extremely funny.

    She eventually got it.

  107. 107.

    Jackie

    September 8, 2023 at 8:12 pm

    @WaterGirl: Kellyanne. I think it was when she was questioned about the Hatch Act while hawking Ivanka’s clothing line while on the WH lawns.

    Meadows wasn’t COS until much later.

  108. 108.

    WaterGirl

    September 8, 2023 at 8:19 pm

    @Jackie: Yeah, from the article it looks like Meadows said it in Aug of 2020.

  109. 109.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    September 8, 2023 at 8:26 pm

    @Baud: ​
      sounds like crudité to me

  110. 110.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    September 8, 2023 at 8:33 pm

    @JWR: ​
      he’s known to like show tunes:

    You coax the blues right out of the horn, Mame
    You charm the husk right off of the corn, Mame

    You make our cotton easy to pick, Mame
    You give my old mint julep a kick, Mame

    You brought the cakewalk back into style, Mame
    You make the weeping willow tree smile, Mame

  111. 111.

    Jackie

    September 8, 2023 at 8:36 pm

    @Alison Rose: We used to put a blob of peanut butter on our GSD’s snout – just beyond easy reach of her tongue. She’d lick from the front while walking “towards it.” Then she’d switch to windshield wiper mode – which helped her eventually reach it all. Funnier than hell! She always forgave us – because PEANUT BUTTER!

  112. 112.

    Ryan

    September 8, 2023 at 8:36 pm

    Eh.  Close ehough.

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeZRYhLDLeU

  113. 113.

    Jackie

    September 8, 2023 at 8:47 pm

    Is Kari Lake a loser/winner? Apparently TIFG contacted Blake Masters and strongly suggested he not run for senate – leaving the way for Lake.

    Doesn’t this suggest Lake isn’t on TIFG’s short list for VP? All that couch surfing at MAL for naught? (Which rumor says pissed Melanoma off) 🤔🤭

    Saw it on the NYT so no link

  114. 114.

    Alison Rose

    September 8, 2023 at 8:48 pm

    @Jackie: Ewwww are they banging?

  115. 115.

    wjca

    September 8, 2023 at 8:51 pm

    @Alison Rose: Ewwww are they banging?

    Nah.  Just heavy petting….

    Although I suppose it wouldn’t be that surprising if she’s been spending a lot of time on her knees. (Gratuitous Marilyn Monroe quote.)

  116. 116.

    Jackie

    September 8, 2023 at 8:55 pm

    @Jackie: Found a snippet of the NYT article on RawStory: https://www.rawstory.com/trump-blake-masters/

  117. 117.

    Barbara

    September 8, 2023 at 8:58 pm

    @Baud: ​
     Found it.

    https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/28/1455

    Bases are here:
    https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/28/1442

    Basically, it protects US officials from being prosecuted by states in connection with official federal actions.

    It’s still bizarre that he would try to invoke it.

  118. 118.

    Jackie

    September 8, 2023 at 8:58 pm

    @Alison Rose: I can’t imagine Kari being that desperate!!! And, obviously TIFG is terrified of Melanoma for ??? so I doubt he’d dare – at least at MAL.

  119. 119.

    Ken

    September 8, 2023 at 8:59 pm

    @JWR: Writing “MAGA” is like a tic with him, isn’t it?

    Product placement. He’s probably making as much off the baseball caps as from his golf courses.

  120. 120.

    smith

    September 8, 2023 at 8:59 pm

    @Jackie: I hope Masters doesn’t listen. It would be greatly entertaining to see a MAGA-palooza to the death, and it wouldn’t hurt our guy any either.

  121. 121.

    Geminid

    September 8, 2023 at 9:01 pm

    @Jackie: I always figured Kari Lake was on her own short list for VP, but not Trump’s. Lake lacks the requisite status for the job, and is too personally ambitious to be a reliable running mate.

    Someone like Governor Noehm would be likely choice. Trump might not be able to get a Senator to run with him, except maybe Tuberville who’s too dumb to recognize a toxic tinhorn when he sees one.

  122. 122.

    lowtechcyclist

    September 8, 2023 at 9:12 pm

    @grumbles: ​
     

    I believe this is officially known as the “Cheese and Crackers” trial.

    I prefer “Cheese and Kraken.”

  123. 123.

    Jackie

    September 8, 2023 at 9:12 pm

    @smith: Me, too. Although in MAGA GQP AZ, not getting TIFG’s endorsement AND TIFG endorsing Lake…

    I think Gallegos will beat either, regardless.

    And should Sinema run as an Indy, she’s likely to pull from GOP voters – she’s persona non grata for Democratic voters.

  124. 124.

    Scout211

    September 8, 2023 at 9:16 pm

    @Geminid: Someone like Governor Noehm would be likely choice

    She’s all the gossipy political reporters are talking about right now.  Trump is appearing with her this weekend and she is formally endorsing him.  The political reporters claim that this means she’s ahead in the “veepstakes.”

    WASHINGTON (AP) As his rivals hold town halls and meet-and-greets in early voting states, Donald Trump will head to South Dakota Friday for a party fundraiser that will double as an opportunity for the state’s governor, Kristi Noem, to showcase herself as a potential vice presidential pick.

    Trump will join the South Dakota Republican Party for a “Monumental Leaders Rally” in Rapid City. Noem will appear alongside the former president and is expected to endorse him, creating an image of the pair that Noem’s allies hope looks like a presidential ticket, according to two senior Republicans familiar with her thinking who spoke on condition of anonymity because she had not yet made her endorsement public.

  125. 125.

    Jackie

    September 8, 2023 at 9:17 pm

    @Geminid:

    Lake lacks the requisite status for the job

    Exactly. She’s a Loser. And only one LOSER allowed on the ticket! 😉

  126. 126.

    Jackie

    September 8, 2023 at 9:24 pm

    @Scout211: Ms Googly Eyes “put TIFG on Mt Rushmore!” Flattery and gushing adoration are necessary requirements for his VP short list.

    BUT will Melanomia allow an attractive younger? woman be on the ticket?

  127. 127.

    prostratedragon

    September 8, 2023 at 9:28 pm

    @Ken:
    “Life’s Full of Consequence”

  128. 128.

    wjca

    September 8, 2023 at 9:28 pm

    @Geminid: Trump might not be able to get a Senator to run with him, except maybe Tuberville who’s too dumb to recognize a toxic tinhorn when he sees one.

    And Trump is someone who would simply love to hobnob with an actual football Head Coach.

  129. 129.

    Betsy

    September 8, 2023 at 9:29 pm

    @trollhattan: It’d be the same state charges even if it did get removed to federal court, so that wouldn’t have changed the pardon ability, anyway.

  130. 130.

    Jackie

    September 8, 2023 at 9:38 pm

    For a hilarious take on Fani Willis’ reply to Gym Jordan’s “demands,” Digby’s post is a Must Read!

    https://digbysblog.net/2023/09/08/you-dont-spit-into-the-wind/

  131. 131.

    ...now I try to be amused

    September 8, 2023 at 9:43 pm

    @grumbles:

    I believe this is officially known as the “Cheese and Crackers” trial.

    (h/t Popehat)

    “Jack E. Smith” on Twitter called it the appetizer trial.

  132. 132.

    Danielx

    September 8, 2023 at 10:09 pm

    @HumboldtBlue:

    Wonder if anyone has broken it to him that MAGA has become an acronym for My Ass Got Arrested.

  133. 133.

    unctuous

    September 9, 2023 at 1:16 am

    @Scout211:

    Meadows: “Everything I do for Trump is part of my federal government job description!”

    Judge and everyone not in the Trump cult: ”Um, no.”

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