What a high risk gamble.
Mark Meadows takes the stand to support his motion to move Fulton County case to federal court.
Even this statement alone gets him into deeper trouble for involvement in the alleged conspiracy.👇
2. Mark Meadows testifies: "In my role as Chief of Staff, I recommended that the president reach out to Ms. Watson" (via @CNN report).
In his own words, that is an incriminating admission that he recommended Trump make the call to Watson that is part of the alleged conspiracy.👇
3. More trouble for Meadows.
He admits he "had no reason to doubt Mr. Barr's" assessment that the fraud allegations were meritless.
Meadows adds that he believed at the time “further investigation” was still warranted. That's not enough to help him.
cnn.com/politics/live-…
4. I have long said Meadows in some respects has even more criminal exposure than Trump.
That's because Meadows confided in people he knew the election was lost.
Now he has admitted in testimony he had no reason to doubt Barr's assessment.
5. CNN's great reporting on Meadows testimony is by @jeremyherb @MarshallCohen @kpolantz @jasonmorris @JMOCNN
Live updates here:
cnn.com/politics/live-…
6."On several occasions, Mark Meadows claimed to have no knowledge of the Trump campaign’s efforts to contest the election results" (via @AmyEGardner)
a) Shows prosecutors what cards he'll play
b) If prosecutors can show he's lying, he's in deeper trouble
washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/…
@AmyEGardner 7. Here's the more full report by @AmyEGardner on Mark Meadows' - in testimony - denying knowledge of various Trump Campaign efforts to contest election results in Georgia and Pennsylvania.👇
washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/…
8. Yet another problem for Meadows.
He says call he set up with Trump-Raffensperger was Trump hoping to figure out "a less-litigious way of resolving" concerns.
Prosecutors: That's Campaign litigation. Why are you as Chief of Staff directly involved?
cnn.com/politics/live-…
9. Meadows who has testified he was the gatekeeper now says he can't recall details of arranging for Cleta Mitchell and two other Trump Campaign lawyers to be on the Raffensperger call.👇
I think he is toast tbh.
cnn.com/politics/live-…
10. Note the DA subpoenaed both Trump Campaign lawyers who were on that Trump-Raffensperger call for today's hearing, Kurt Hilbert and Alex Kaufman.
11. This claim by Meadows does him some good (but won't work on Raffensperger call in which he actively participated).
"He said he attended numerous meetings and listened in on many phone calls that were political in nature simply to end the conversations at the right time."
12.
On left:
Among most damaging evidence showing Meadows' conduct was political is Act 96 in indictment. Meadows texted GA official if they can speed up their work "if the trump campaign assist financially."
On right:
Meadows' testimony on this, riddled with problems.
13. DA saved strongest question for last: Meadows' involvement with false electors.
That has no nexus to presidential duties.
Meadows' response is perhaps telling:
"As chief of staff, no I did not coordinate those efforts."
via @MLevineReports @wsteaks
abcnews.go.com/US/live-update…
14. "As chief of staff, no I did not coordinate those efforts."
Reflect on that.
"As chief of staff," he didn't. Indeed, it was not within a chief of staff's official authority.
"I did not coordinate:" Okay, then what would you call what you did do?
Select committee report.👇
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