Former President Donald Trump’s legal team may need to come up with a more “creative argument” in defending him as their legal one “ain’t working,” former Republican National Committee (RNC) chairman Michael Steele said on Saturday.

Steele’s comments come after Trump’s former chief of staff Mark Meadows was handed a legal loss on Friday after trying to move his case to a federal court instead of a state one.

The former White House chief of staff is facing two criminal counts, accused of trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia, along with Trump and 17 other associates of the former president. All 19 defendants from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ indictment have pleaded not guilty to their various charges. Meadows took the stand in Georgia last week to argue that his case should be tried in federal court, given that his actions tied to the indictment fell under his responsibilities as chief of staff.

U.S. District Judge Steve Jones wrote in his 49-page filing order on Friday, however, that Meadows’ actions fell outside the requirements of a White House chief of staff.

    • dhork@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      It comes down to 12 random Falcons fans before that, though. All it takes is one obstinate person leaking in to hang a jury.

    • Nusm@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      But the beauty is, according to Georgia law, that can’t happen until 5 years after they’ve finished serving their sentence.

      Now the legislature could change the law, but that’s it as it stands right now, and I’m not sure there’s currently enough support to change it. Currently.

      • downpunxx@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        You see what Georgia is doing to the Stop Cop City protesters? There’s enough support. It’s fucking Georgia. The villains, including Kemp, are keeping schtum until after the judgements are handed down. Anyone not seeing this as clearly as day follows night is only kidding themselves. Ain’t kiddin me, tho.

        • Nusm@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          While I’m not disagreeing with you, Trump tried to vilify Kemp and turn his mob on Rathesburger when they wouldn’t break the law for him. Also a lot of Republicans blame him for the loss of Purdue & Loeffler’s seats, because he wasn’t campaigning for them, he was doing the opposite. He was running around screaming about how the election was stolen and how your vote doesn’t matter, so enough Republicans didn’t vote that the seats were lost. While there’s no doubt that it’s Trump Country™ down here with the “common folks”, I’m not sure he has enough support among legislators and the upper class money to change the law just to give him a pardon.