Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, charged along with 18 others in Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' sweeping racketeering indictment for alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia, took the stand on Monday to try to have his trial moved from state to federal court.
Among other charges, the indictment cites Meadows' role in the infamous Jan. 2, 2021, phone call then-President Donald Trump made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger -- actions that Meadows argues he took as a federal official acting "under color" of his office.
Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Aug 28, 2023, 11:17 AM EDT
Meadows says his role was to be in almost every meeting Trump had
Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said on the stand Monday that his role involved setting up meetings and communications with various agencies and states.
Meadows said his role was to be in almost every meeting the president had, and he described his role as more difficult than he could have imagined. He described the time after the 2020 election as more than he could handle.
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows speaks with reporters at the White House, Oct. 21, 2020, in Washington.
Alex Brandon/AP, File
-ABC News' Riley Hoffman
Aug 28, 2023, 10:53 AM EDT
Meadows takes the stand
The hearing began shortly after 10 a.m. with the defense calling Mark Meadows to the stand.
The defense went over Meadows' duties as chief of staff and assistant to former President Donald Trump.
On the stand, Meadows said it was his role to "oversee all the federal operations, not just in the West Wing, but beyond that."
Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows arrives for his court hearing to try to have his trial moved from state to federal court in Atlanta, Aug. 28, 2023.
ABC News
Meadows also said the job was difficult in light of the pandemic, calling it "challenging times."
"There was a political component to everything that we did," Meadows said in describing the intersection between policy and politics inside the Trump White House in the chaotic closing days of the administration.
Meadows, wearing a royal blue suit, white shirt and pale blue tie in court, said he attended meetings as a principle and sometimes as an observer.
Meadows said he would "certainly meet with state officials" as part of his job.
At least one attorney for Trump, Jennifer Little, was spotted in the overflow room listening to the proceedings.
-ABC News' Nadine El-Bawab and Aaron Katersky
Aug 28, 2023, 10:51 AM EDT
Arraignments set for Sept. 6
Fulton County, Georgia, Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee has scheduled the plea hearings and arraignments for all 19 defendants alleged to have conspired to overturn the 2020 election for Wednesday, Sept. 6.
The arraignments are staggered over 15-minute intervals, beginning with former President Donald Trump at 9:30 a.m. and concluding with Misty Hampton at 3 p.m.
Former chief of staff Mark Meadows' appearance is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.
-ABC News' Peter Charalambous
Aug 28, 2023, 10:14 AM EDT
Meadows arrives at federal court
Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows arrived at federal court in Atlanta just after 9 a.m. ET for a hearing on his motion to have his trial moved from state to federal court.
Meadows walked in with his lawyers and did not respond to any shouted questions.
Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows arrives for his court hearing to try to have his trial moved from state to federal court in Atlanta, Aug. 28, 2023.
