WEBVTT

00:04.839 --> 00:10.267
>> I AM GIVING THE DEFENDANTS

00:10.278 --> 00:11.879
>> I AM GIVING THE DEFENDANTS

00:11.890 --> 00:14.039
THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTARILY

00:14.073 --> 00:17.279
SURRENDER, NO LATER THAN NOON

00:17.290 --> 00:19.887
ON FRIDAY, THE 25TH DAY OF

00:19.888 --> 00:21.178
AUGUST, 2023.

00:21.189 --> 00:23.036
>> YESTERDAY, DISTRICT ATTORNEY

00:23.070 --> 00:24.846
FANI WILLIS SAID ALL 19

00:24.857 --> 00:25.758
DEFENDANTS CHARGED WITH

00:25.759 --> 00:27.935
RACKETEERING IN GEORGIA HAVE

00:27.970 --> 00:29.498
UNTIL NEXT FRIDAY TO APPEAR

00:29.500 --> 00:31.513
VOLUNTARILY IN COURT IN FULTON

00:31.524 --> 00:32.598
COUNTY, RATHER THAN FACE

00:32.599 --> 00:33.037
ARREST.

00:33.048 --> 00:34.540
ONE OF THOSE DEFENDANTS, MARK

00:34.551 --> 00:35.687
MEADOWS, IS ALREADY ASKING THE

00:35.688 --> 00:37.016
COURT TO MOVE HIS CASE TO

00:37.050 --> 00:38.161
FEDERAL COURT.

00:38.162 --> 00:39.873
TODAY, LAWYERS FOR MEADOWS

00:39.884 --> 00:41.827
FILED THE CASE SHOULD BE IN

00:41.829 --> 00:43.151
FEDERAL COURT BECAUSE, QUOTE,

00:43.152 --> 00:44.582
THE CONDUCT GIVING RISE TO THE

00:44.583 --> 00:45.815
CHARGES IN THE INDICTMENT ALL

00:45.826 --> 00:47.893
OCCURRED DURING HIS TENURE, AND

00:47.904 --> 00:49.258
AS PART OF HIS SERVICE HAS

00:49.269 --> 00:51.216
CHIEF OF STAFF TO DONALD TRUMP.

00:51.217 --> 00:52.904
MEADOWS IS THE FIRST OF THE 19

00:52.905 --> 00:54.462
DEFENDANTS CHARGED IN --

00:54.473 --> 00:55.449
CHALLENGE TO THE CASE.

00:55.460 --> 00:56.788
BUT I THINK WE CAN SAFELY SAY

00:56.822 --> 00:59.343
HE WILL NOT BE THE LAST.

00:59.344 --> 01:00.711
ANNA BOWER IS A CORRESPONDENT

01:00.712 --> 01:02.500
FOR LAWFARE, WHO HAS BEEN

01:02.511 --> 01:03.556
COVERING THE FULTON COUNTY

01:03.567 --> 01:03.790
INVESTIGATION.

01:03.825 --> 01:05.120
SHE WATCHED IT ALL UNFOLD AT

01:05.131 --> 01:06.679
THE COURTHOUSE YESTERDAY AND

01:06.690 --> 01:08.783
SHE JOINS ME NOW.

01:08.794 --> 01:10.579
ANNA, FIRST OF ALL, I’VE BEEN

01:10.590 --> 01:11.238
FOLLOWING YOUR COVERAGE.

01:11.273 --> 01:12.473
IT’S BEEN SUPER USEFUL.

01:12.484 --> 01:13.576
SO, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

01:13.611 --> 01:14.983
SECOND OF ALL, WHAT DO YOU MAKE

01:14.984 --> 01:16.828
OF THE MEADOWS FILE?

01:16.829 --> 01:19.152
>> THANKS FOR HAVING, ME CHRIS.

01:19.153 --> 01:21.140
SO, I MAKE OF THE MEADOWS

01:21.151 --> 01:22.442
FILING THAT IT IS VERY MUCH

01:22.476 --> 01:23.030
EXPECTED.

01:23.031 --> 01:25.347
WE ANTICIPATED THAT MANY OF

01:25.358 --> 01:27.934
THESE DEFENDANTS WOULD MAKE

01:27.935 --> 01:29.436
THEIR FIRST MOVE --

01:29.447 --> 01:31.778
A MOVE TO FEDERAL COURT.

01:31.789 --> 01:34.368
THERE IS A STATUTE THAT ALLOWS

01:34.370 --> 01:36.716
FEDERAL OFFICIALS, OR FORMER

01:36.727 --> 01:39.064
FEDERAL OFFICIALS, TO SEEK TO

01:39.066 --> 01:40.891
REMOVE STATE CRIMINAL CASES TO

01:40.902 --> 01:41.862
FEDERAL COURT.

01:41.896 --> 01:44.339
MANY OF THEM WILL LIKELY SEEK

01:44.350 --> 01:46.868
TO DO THAT, WHETHER BECAUSE

01:46.879 --> 01:48.460
THEY WANT TO DELAY PROCEEDINGS,

01:48.495 --> 01:50.412
OR BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY WILL

01:50.413 --> 01:51.463
HAVE A FRIENDLIER JURY POOL

01:51.474 --> 01:52.060
THEIR.

01:52.094 --> 01:56.007
IN TERMS OF WHAT I THINK ABOUT

01:56.018 --> 01:58.603
MEADOWS FILING, IT’S KIND OF

01:58.604 --> 02:00.371
SOMETHING THAT I HAVE TALKED TO

02:00.372 --> 02:01.526
A LOT OF ATTORNEYS IN GEORGIA

02:01.527 --> 02:01.933
ABOUT.

02:01.934 --> 02:03.617
AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE

02:03.618 --> 02:04.988
THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT IN TERMS OF

02:04.999 --> 02:06.787
DOING MY OWN RESEARCH.

02:06.822 --> 02:08.417
AND I REALLY THINK HE ACTUALLY

02:08.428 --> 02:10.598
DOES HAVE A PRETTY GOOD CHANCE

02:10.609 --> 02:12.015
OF REMOVING THE CASE TO FEDERAL

02:12.050 --> 02:12.610
COURT.

02:12.621 --> 02:14.466
IT IS A VERY LOW STANDARD.

02:14.477 --> 02:16.305
ALL THAT YOU HAVE TO REALLY

02:16.306 --> 02:18.393
SHOW IS THAT YOU ARE A FEDERAL

02:18.428 --> 02:20.393
OFFICIAL WHO IS DOING SOMETHING

02:20.394 --> 02:22.021
RELATED TO YOUR FEDERAL DUTIES.

02:22.032 --> 02:24.235
HE KIND OF SAYS THAT HE WAS

02:24.236 --> 02:26.199
MAKING PHONE CALLS AS CHIEF OF

02:26.200 --> 02:27.496
STAFF, AND HE WAS SETTING UP

02:27.507 --> 02:28.092
MEETINGS.

02:28.103 --> 02:30.447
AND I THINK THAT, BECAUSE IT IS

02:30.481 --> 02:32.342
A QUITE LOW STANDARD, YOU JUST

02:32.353 --> 02:34.439
HAVE TO MAKE A PLAUSIBLE CLAIM.

02:34.450 --> 02:36.366
MEADOWS PROBABLY DOES HAVE A

02:36.401 --> 02:37.718
PRETTY GOOD CHANCE AT REMOVING

02:37.729 --> 02:38.702
IT TO FEDERAL COURT.

02:38.713 --> 02:40.674
THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME

02:40.708 --> 02:41.591
AGREEMENT AMONGST LEGAL

02:41.602 --> 02:43.094
SCHOLARS AND ATTORNEYS IN

02:43.105 --> 02:45.124
GEORGIA THAT HE WILL HAVE A

02:45.158 --> 02:47.690
PRETTY GOOD CHANCE OF IT AS

02:47.701 --> 02:49.576
WELL, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING

02:49.610 --> 02:51.288
THAT THE 11TH CIRCUIT HAS

02:51.299 --> 02:52.289
INTERPRETED THE FEDERAL REMOVAL

02:52.300 --> 02:53.796
STATUTE QUITE LIBERALLY.

02:53.807 --> 02:55.023
>> YEAH.

02:55.034 --> 02:58.128
LET ME READ FROM THE FILING OF

02:58.139 --> 03:00.270
HIS LAWYER SAYING, NOTHING MR.

03:00.304 --> 03:01.854
MEADOWS IS ALLEGED TO HAVE DONE

03:01.865 --> 03:02.600
IN THE INDICTMENT’S CRIMINAL

03:02.601 --> 03:03.533
PER SE.

03:03.544 --> 03:04.762
ORIGINAL OVAL OFFICE MEETING,

03:04.773 --> 03:05.804
CONTACTING STATE OFFICIALS ON

03:05.806 --> 03:07.020
THE PRESIDENTS BEHALF, VISITED

03:07.031 --> 03:08.925
STATE GOVERNMENT BUILDING,

03:08.936 --> 03:11.385
SETTING UP A PHONE CALL FOR THE

03:11.419 --> 03:11.733
PRESIDENT.

03:11.744 --> 03:12.543
WHEN UNEXPECTED PRESIDENT CHIEF

03:12.554 --> 03:13.715
OF STAFF TO THE PRESIDENT OF

03:13.749 --> 03:14.653
THE UNITED STATES TO DO THESE

03:14.655 --> 03:15.016
THINGS.

03:15.017 --> 03:15.649
--

03:15.650 --> 03:18.007
ALTHOUGH, WE SHOULD KNOW, THAT

03:18.018 --> 03:19.445
THE ALLEGATION IN THE RICO

03:19.446 --> 03:21.252
CHARGES THAT ONE OF THE THINGS

03:21.263 --> 03:23.293
HE DID WAS ILLEGAL PER SE,

03:23.294 --> 03:24.987
WHICH IS THE SOLICITATION OF

03:25.022 --> 03:26.964
THIS VIOLATION OF AN OATH OF A

03:26.965 --> 03:27.893
PUBLIC OFFICER.

03:27.904 --> 03:29.744
THAT SAYS THAT DONALD J TRUMP

03:29.746 --> 03:31.371
AND MARK RANDALL MEADOWS, WITH

03:31.372 --> 03:33.258
THE OFFENSE OR ARE CHARGED WITH

03:33.269 --> 03:34.751
THE SOLICITATION OF OATH BY A

03:34.762 --> 03:36.754
PUBLIC OFFICER, IN THAT CALL

03:36.755 --> 03:37.971
WITH BRAD RAFFENSPERGER.

03:38.005 --> 03:40.019
SHOULD IT BE REMOVED TO FEDERAL

03:40.020 --> 03:40.508
COURT, THOUGH?

03:40.519 --> 03:41.922
AND HERE IS WHERE I GET A

03:41.957 --> 03:44.237
LITTLE WONKY ON THE LAW.

03:44.248 --> 03:45.822
IT STILL GETS TRIED UNDER

03:45.857 --> 03:47.891
GEORGIA LAW, RIGHT?

03:47.892 --> 03:51.372
IT’S NOT THAT THE SORT OF VENUE

03:51.374 --> 03:52.863
OF JURISPRUDENCE CHANGES, BUT

03:52.874 --> 03:53.711
THE JURISDICTION --

03:53.712 --> 03:55.145
THE STATE LAWS --

03:55.156 --> 03:56.818
ALL THE STUFF THAT IS THE

03:56.819 --> 03:57.963
UNDERGIRDING LAW IS STILL

03:57.974 --> 03:59.945
GEORGIA STATE LAW.

03:59.956 --> 04:02.960
>> THAT IS CORRECT.

04:02.994 --> 04:05.443
IT STILL IS GEORGIA STATE LAW

04:05.444 --> 04:05.710
CHARGES.

04:05.721 --> 04:07.608
FANI WILLIS AND HER TEAM WILL

04:07.619 --> 04:08.757
STILL PROSECUTE THE CASE.

04:08.768 --> 04:10.332
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT

04:10.343 --> 04:12.130
THEY WILL PROSECUTE THE CASE A

04:12.141 --> 04:13.776
FEW BLOCKS DOWN THE ROAD AT THE

04:13.787 --> 04:15.266
FEDERAL COURTHOUSE IN THE

04:15.267 --> 04:16.445
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA IN

04:16.456 --> 04:18.308
FEDERAL COURT.

04:18.309 --> 04:20.592
FEDERAL PROCEDURAL RULES WILL

04:20.593 --> 04:21.736
LARGELY APPLY.

04:21.737 --> 04:23.509
AND A FEDERAL JUDGE WILL

04:23.520 --> 04:25.090
PRESIDE OVER THE CASE.

04:25.124 --> 04:27.244
THE DEFENDANTS WHO ARE ABLE TO

04:27.245 --> 04:28.943
REMOVE WILL ALSO HAVE A FEDERAL

04:28.954 --> 04:29.999
JURY POOL.

04:30.000 --> 04:31.932
SO, THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE.

04:31.943 --> 04:33.543
BUT IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT THE

04:33.544 --> 04:35.277
CHARGES ARE ANY DIFFERENT, OR

04:35.312 --> 04:36.441
THAT THE PROSECUTORIAL TEAM IS

04:36.452 --> 04:37.306
ANY DIFFERENT.

04:37.317 --> 04:38.489
IT WON’T BE FEDERAL

04:38.500 --> 04:38.951
PROSECUTORS.

04:38.962 --> 04:40.435
IT WILL STILL BE STATE

04:40.470 --> 04:41.511
PROSECUTORS.

04:41.522 --> 04:44.721
AND, IMPORTANTLY, IF TRUMP OR

04:44.723 --> 04:46.900
ANY OTHER FUTURE PRESIDENT WILL

04:46.911 --> 04:49.957
STILL NOT BE ABLE TO PARDON

04:49.958 --> 04:52.160
TRUMP UNDER A FEDERAL PARDON

04:52.195 --> 04:53.564
BECAUSE, AGAIN, THESE ARE STILL

04:53.575 --> 04:54.767
STATE CHARGES IF HE IS

04:54.802 --> 04:55.728
CONVICTED OR IF OTHERS ARE

04:55.739 --> 04:56.018
CONVICTED.

04:56.019 --> 04:56.988
>> RIGHT.

04:56.999 --> 04:58.801
THAT’S REALLY KEY POINT I JUST

04:58.835 --> 04:59.969
WANT TO REITERATE THAT.

04:59.970 --> 05:01.406
SHOULD MEADOWS BE CONVICTED,

05:01.407 --> 05:03.044
EVEN AFTER A SUCCESSFUL REMOVAL

05:03.055 --> 05:04.520
TO FEDERAL COURT, IT IS STILL A

05:04.531 --> 05:05.285
GEORGIA OFFENSE.

05:05.296 --> 05:08.197
IT STILL CAN’T BE PARDONED BY

05:08.208 --> 05:08.811
WHICHEVER PRESIDENT WOULD COME