There were fireworks down in a federal court in Atlanta on Monday. On the docket was a removal request by former White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows. His goal? Transfer the case the hell out of state court in Georgia, likely so he can make clean, federal legal arguments before a federal judge—rather than a Georgia state judge or jury—for why he should be dismissed entirely.
Correction: Substack autocorrected the name of the lead character in Mean Girls from “Cady” to “Candy” in my piece. I was appalled. I have corrected this autocorrect and sent a stern message complaining of this blatant homophobia.
Meadows claimed he merely wanted to find a resolution in order to “get things off the President’s plate” so they could focus on the “peaceful transfer of power.”....Trump & Meadow’s White House famously did nothing to help get the incoming Biden team up to speed on the issues facing the nation, including COVID-19, because they were too busy trying to overturn the election results and because they were so petty about their loss of power that the nation’s health and security took a back seat to their partisan temper tantrum.
When dumpster finally left the White House , he locked the front door . The new president and his family had to enter the White house by the back door !! How petty is that !!
I am assuming your comment is tongue-in-cheek. The thought of being "locked out" of the White House front door is absurd given the dozens of staff and security personnel on duty 24/7. I would bet that the front door doesn't even have a lock.
Actually, true, but more like a side door. The first family & entourage had to walk around to find an unlocked door. History shows the outgoing president & spouse diplomatically greeting the new President & First Lady and peacefully transferring everything over.
That should read “History shows PRIOR outgoing presidents diplomatically transferring over the reigns of power.” Since Trump didn’t admit or accept defeat, he declined the literal and symbolic gesture. Had he not left of his own volition, the military or other authorized armed group would have humiliated him by physically escorting him out.
These are the kind of knots you tie yourself into when, instead of pleading not guilty, you plead F You, which is what Meadows and the entire Trump cartel have done.
This sprawling defense reminds me of the assessment from a few years ago (and I'm sorry i don't remember who said it first) that there is/was no Trump administration or Trump White House. There's only Donald Trump and the people who are willing to do whatever he says. And like I said at the time, there weren't really any jobs in the Trump White House, or more accurately everyone had the same job, which was essentially "geriatric nurse."
I am sure after that Meadows said "It all sounded so good in my head!" What an egotistical fool. He is so guilty of, if nothing else, breaking the Hatch Act.
Meadows faces mandatory jail time for RICO statute violations in Georgia state courts -- and Georgia governors do not have pardon power. In Georgia, RICO violations carry a mandatory five-year sentence for the convicted--and an appeal to a parole board can't take place until the first five years of the sentence, which may carry up to 20 years in jail, has been satisfied. This is an act of desperation. He gets out of Georgia, which will convict him on the Raffensberger manipulation, or he goes to jail. And Trump with him. And Giuliani with him. And the vile Sidney Powell with him.
It is a big risk to him. Theoretically, however, a judge could impose a fine instead of jail time. Unlikely, but it’s an option (that I hope is not used).
No Jay , I want them all to do time for fomenting all this hate and bigotry upon the American people! If people want the United States to fight for a just cause , let it be getting rid of all these hate -mongers spewing all the hate and trying to turn the USA into a Christofascist !!!
Meadows is terrified - he knows if he has to stand trial in Georgia, he's screwed. Smith is gonna let him walk on the Federal indictment because he is gonna TESTIFY AGAINST HIS FORMER BOSS. He is now in a vise - he can always be added to the Fed charges if he balks, but the only thing that can possibly save him in the long run is to get the Georgia case removed. Dude is toast, and he's just flopping around like a landed fish.
As per Jay, it’s a low bar required to be moved to a federal court. There he can appeal to the 11 th Circuit and all the way up to the Supreme Court. I hope the judge doesn’t allow it. We’ll see, but he was sure acting like he had already won. MagaMule
That's the thing, though. That's what brought them ALL here - acting like they had already won. It is what they do - it's the way the con works. They walk around displaying supreme confidence, and the marks believe them. Yes, the bar is *normally low - IF they have a decent argument that they were in fact acting within the purview of their job. Meadows torpedoed his own argument on that point.
This all keeps reminding me of a West Wing episode where Donna is outside the gates of the White House to talk to a couple in NH before their votes in the primary. I believe the point was no campaigning from inside the White House. Obviously, there should be no criming either. I hope the Judge caught the irony of stuff like this not coming up before, because of course it hasn't. We're in new waters in this country and we'd do well to stop normalizing this stuff like our media's been doing, and to get this right with some teeth, so it never happens again. Thank you, as always.
Yes, it all very much looked to be a peaceful transfer of power on January 6, with happy tourists visiting our nation's capitol, enjoying the blessings of freedom and liberty, and taking pictures and videos of their peacefulness. /s
The line between the governmental and the political is not easy to draw or enforce, but certain behavior clearly crosses the line and is not entitled to be called job related, and, therefore, governmental . Meadows pretty obviously doesn’t care about or understand the distinction, which raises the question, why should we? As taxpayers we pay for governmental services. We shouldn’t have to pay for political or party services for people we do not support. Pretending there’s no distinction is just a way to screw your opponents out of money under the guise, masquerade of doing the people’ business. The money Meadows took from the government for doing non-governmental work should be accounted for and ordered returned to the Treasury and he should be banned from ever serving in the government again. He’s really just a thief and a liar in a fancy suit.
I somewhat disagree here. All government employees take an oath. I see multiple instances here where he violated that oath.
But there is a dichotomy here for political appointmees. They obviously serve at the pleasure of the President. But their oath binds them to serve in the best interest of the US, not a single person. They are bound by the Hatch Act (whereas the President is not).
It's already been covered elsewhere, but there is delineation between a campaign and the Office of the President of the US. That he traveled to Georgia to view vote signature practices, when the Federal Government has no role. That he was on the "Perfect" call without White House Counsel (but with Campaign Counsel). It doesn't stretch credulity, it breaks it. Ultimately he's paid by the taxpayers, not the campaign.
Not sure if it helps or hurts Meadows arguments that the lines between campaign and official WH duties were being erased months before the election. I remember being so disgusted by the WH being turned into a rally stage with the RNC (authoritarian style) display of corruption of the Hatch Act.
Imagine the uproar if Obama had done that?! If Biden were to do it next year for the DNC they'd probably scream "Hatch Act violation" (as we did) but they act as only they can break the rules and get away with it. Take them beans, Goya peddling, China trademark holder Ivanka. Since it was disclosed that the act is only enforceable by the President, it really is a sham, and that's a shame. Yes, shame on them, for so many things!
Holding my breath for the decision...hoping the judge does indeed get it right. Clearly, Mark Meadows took a major risk here. Cassidy Hutchinson's book, Enough, is coming out on my birthday, September 26th. I cant wait to read what she has to say about all of this. 😳
The stakes are high. If the judge rules Meadows was, indeed, only performing his official duties, the Hatch Ace means nothing. That higher courts will be the final word on this is scary as hell.
"Meadows could take this to the 11th Circuit and then likely up to the Supreme Court, which will be waiting with its shadow docket to issue a final disposition."
I don’t want to pretend I know how the Supreme Court would rule here. I think a lot will depend on how much of the district court’s opinion is based on factual findings.
I still cannot imagine how the special council, his team, and the prosecutors managed to go through all the material and maintain their faith in humanity. The sheer amount of filth, lies, corruption, etc. they had to expose themselves to had to have been staggering.
Correction: Substack autocorrected the name of the lead character in Mean Girls from “Cady” to “Candy” in my piece. I was appalled. I have corrected this autocorrect and sent a stern message complaining of this blatant homophobia.
Meadows claimed he merely wanted to find a resolution in order to “get things off the President’s plate” so they could focus on the “peaceful transfer of power.”....Trump & Meadow’s White House famously did nothing to help get the incoming Biden team up to speed on the issues facing the nation, including COVID-19, because they were too busy trying to overturn the election results and because they were so petty about their loss of power that the nation’s health and security took a back seat to their partisan temper tantrum.
When dumpster finally left the White House , he locked the front door . The new president and his family had to enter the White house by the back door !! How petty is that !!
I am assuming your comment is tongue-in-cheek. The thought of being "locked out" of the White House front door is absurd given the dozens of staff and security personnel on duty 24/7. I would bet that the front door doesn't even have a lock.
Actually, true, but more like a side door. The first family & entourage had to walk around to find an unlocked door. History shows the outgoing president & spouse diplomatically greeting the new President & First Lady and peacefully transferring everything over.
Not really true. The delay at the door was a matter of seconds before the Marine guard opened them. They didn't go to a side door, or any other door. https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/joe-biden-jill-white-house-locked-out-inauguration-trump-b1791409.html
Interesting... this sounds even worse. Thanks!
That should read “History shows PRIOR outgoing presidents diplomatically transferring over the reigns of power.” Since Trump didn’t admit or accept defeat, he declined the literal and symbolic gesture. Had he not left of his own volition, the military or other authorized armed group would have humiliated him by physically escorting him out.
These are the kind of knots you tie yourself into when, instead of pleading not guilty, you plead F You, which is what Meadows and the entire Trump cartel have done.
This sprawling defense reminds me of the assessment from a few years ago (and I'm sorry i don't remember who said it first) that there is/was no Trump administration or Trump White House. There's only Donald Trump and the people who are willing to do whatever he says. And like I said at the time, there weren't really any jobs in the Trump White House, or more accurately everyone had the same job, which was essentially "geriatric nurse."
I am sure after that Meadows said "It all sounded so good in my head!" What an egotistical fool. He is so guilty of, if nothing else, breaking the Hatch Act.
Does his bullshit theory that he was working as the chief of staff cover that he voted in multiple states ??
Meadows faces mandatory jail time for RICO statute violations in Georgia state courts -- and Georgia governors do not have pardon power. In Georgia, RICO violations carry a mandatory five-year sentence for the convicted--and an appeal to a parole board can't take place until the first five years of the sentence, which may carry up to 20 years in jail, has been satisfied. This is an act of desperation. He gets out of Georgia, which will convict him on the Raffensberger manipulation, or he goes to jail. And Trump with him. And Giuliani with him. And the vile Sidney Powell with him.
It is a big risk to him. Theoretically, however, a judge could impose a fine instead of jail time. Unlikely, but it’s an option (that I hope is not used).
No Jay , I want them all to do time for fomenting all this hate and bigotry upon the American people! If people want the United States to fight for a just cause , let it be getting rid of all these hate -mongers spewing all the hate and trying to turn the USA into a Christofascist !!!
Don't forget dear Jeffery.
He's strikingly horrid
Heavens no!
The entirety of the argument was an audacious mockumentary on law and order, and the overworked b.s. meter is askew with a severely charred gasket.
I've broken so many b.s. meters in the past several years that I buy them in bulk now.
Best comment of the day.... perhaps of the decade.
😅
Meadows is beyond arrogant just like Trump.
Meadows is terrified - he knows if he has to stand trial in Georgia, he's screwed. Smith is gonna let him walk on the Federal indictment because he is gonna TESTIFY AGAINST HIS FORMER BOSS. He is now in a vise - he can always be added to the Fed charges if he balks, but the only thing that can possibly save him in the long run is to get the Georgia case removed. Dude is toast, and he's just flopping around like a landed fish.
As per Jay, it’s a low bar required to be moved to a federal court. There he can appeal to the 11 th Circuit and all the way up to the Supreme Court. I hope the judge doesn’t allow it. We’ll see, but he was sure acting like he had already won. MagaMule
That's the thing, though. That's what brought them ALL here - acting like they had already won. It is what they do - it's the way the con works. They walk around displaying supreme confidence, and the marks believe them. Yes, the bar is *normally low - IF they have a decent argument that they were in fact acting within the purview of their job. Meadows torpedoed his own argument on that point.
Loved the momentary pause for "We are not amused."
..and thanks for the insights you share. You do a great job of untangling all the bits and pieces.
This all keeps reminding me of a West Wing episode where Donna is outside the gates of the White House to talk to a couple in NH before their votes in the primary. I believe the point was no campaigning from inside the White House. Obviously, there should be no criming either. I hope the Judge caught the irony of stuff like this not coming up before, because of course it hasn't. We're in new waters in this country and we'd do well to stop normalizing this stuff like our media's been doing, and to get this right with some teeth, so it never happens again. Thank you, as always.
Yes, it all very much looked to be a peaceful transfer of power on January 6, with happy tourists visiting our nation's capitol, enjoying the blessings of freedom and liberty, and taking pictures and videos of their peacefulness. /s
The line between the governmental and the political is not easy to draw or enforce, but certain behavior clearly crosses the line and is not entitled to be called job related, and, therefore, governmental . Meadows pretty obviously doesn’t care about or understand the distinction, which raises the question, why should we? As taxpayers we pay for governmental services. We shouldn’t have to pay for political or party services for people we do not support. Pretending there’s no distinction is just a way to screw your opponents out of money under the guise, masquerade of doing the people’ business. The money Meadows took from the government for doing non-governmental work should be accounted for and ordered returned to the Treasury and he should be banned from ever serving in the government again. He’s really just a thief and a liar in a fancy suit.
Like the rest of the house GOP at this point.
I somewhat disagree here. All government employees take an oath. I see multiple instances here where he violated that oath.
But there is a dichotomy here for political appointmees. They obviously serve at the pleasure of the President. But their oath binds them to serve in the best interest of the US, not a single person. They are bound by the Hatch Act (whereas the President is not).
It's already been covered elsewhere, but there is delineation between a campaign and the Office of the President of the US. That he traveled to Georgia to view vote signature practices, when the Federal Government has no role. That he was on the "Perfect" call without White House Counsel (but with Campaign Counsel). It doesn't stretch credulity, it breaks it. Ultimately he's paid by the taxpayers, not the campaign.
Not sure if it helps or hurts Meadows arguments that the lines between campaign and official WH duties were being erased months before the election. I remember being so disgusted by the WH being turned into a rally stage with the RNC (authoritarian style) display of corruption of the Hatch Act.
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/note-official-business-political-business-trump-white-house/story?id=72753330
I remember that.I was so disgusted at the time that they were getting away with it.
Imagine the uproar if Obama had done that?! If Biden were to do it next year for the DNC they'd probably scream "Hatch Act violation" (as we did) but they act as only they can break the rules and get away with it. Take them beans, Goya peddling, China trademark holder Ivanka. Since it was disclosed that the act is only enforceable by the President, it really is a sham, and that's a shame. Yes, shame on them, for so many things!
Holding my breath for the decision...hoping the judge does indeed get it right. Clearly, Mark Meadows took a major risk here. Cassidy Hutchinson's book, Enough, is coming out on my birthday, September 26th. I cant wait to read what she has to say about all of this. 😳
I wonder if he’ll wait until the next evidentiary hearing mid September from the others who want to remove the case…
Hey Susan Niemann- Sept 26 is MY birthday too! In fact, sigh, almost everyone is born in September! 😊
As am I - lotta conception seems to happen around the holidays...
My son was due ON my birthday! I said "No way!"😊 He decided to wait 4 days, and have his own birthday!😊
OMG! Happy Birthday to us! The 26th is a GREAT day!
:)
Happy Birthday to us! 😊🎉
The stakes are high. If the judge rules Meadows was, indeed, only performing his official duties, the Hatch Ace means nothing. That higher courts will be the final word on this is scary as hell.
There were so many blatant violations of the Hatch Act under the last administration that more than a few people concur.
exactly
I was feeling optimistic until this sentence:
"Meadows could take this to the 11th Circuit and then likely up to the Supreme Court, which will be waiting with its shadow docket to issue a final disposition."
I don’t want to pretend I know how the Supreme Court would rule here. I think a lot will depend on how much of the district court’s opinion is based on factual findings.
Exactly. This was my comment on Facebook….when I saw SCOTUS, I became nauseous….
Thank you for this detailed analysis of the Legal Tango we're being forced to endure. May the nation win in the end!
I still cannot imagine how the special council, his team, and the prosecutors managed to go through all the material and maintain their faith in humanity. The sheer amount of filth, lies, corruption, etc. they had to expose themselves to had to have been staggering.
Every single cop, prosecutor, coroner, etc. tends to have their view of humanity severely altered in short order upon beginning the job.