Georgia election hearing updates: Court adjourns with no decision yet in Meadows case
Mark Meadows took the stand on Monday.
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.
Latest headlines:
- Hearing ends, no decision from the judge
- Raffensperger: Trump's 'outreach to that extent was extraordinary'
- Meadows dodges questions on if he believed Trump won election
- Meadows: 'I don't know that I did anything that was outside of my role'
- Meadows describes 'biggest surprise' in indictment
- Meadows says his role was to be in almost every meeting Trump had
Attorney on Raffensperger call takes the stand
The first witness called to the stand by the prosecution was Kurt Hilbert, a Georgia attorney who was on Donald Trump's Jan. 2, 2021, phone call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.
Hillbert testified that on Jan. 2, 2021, before the phone call, he spoke to Trump, Mark Meadows and lawyer Cleta Mitchell, all of whom were later on the call with Raffensperger.
Contrary to what Meadows testified, Hilbert said the only reason for the call with Raffensperger was to discuss campaign matters.
The prosecution asked, "You believe the entirety of that conversation was in furtherance of settlement negotiations related to the campaign lawsuit in Georgia?" Hilbert responded, "Yes."
The judge asked him why he believed that, and Hilbert said there were two pending lawsuits on the Georgia election and "there would be no other purpose" in having the call.
Hilbert said he did understand Meadows to be there as chief of staff.
Meadows testified earlier Monday that he couldn't recall if he spoke with campaign lawyers prior to the call on Jan. 2, 2021.
-ABC News' Riley Hoffman, Mike Levine and Will Steakin
Defense rests, Meadows steps down
Mark Meadows' defense has rested. Meadows stepped down from the stand after nearly three hours and 40 minutes.
Before stepping down, he reiterated that there is a federal role in ensuring the accuracy of elections and protecting elections from cyberthreats.
Before Meadows stepped down, prosecutors questioned him about his role in the fake electors scheme. Meadows said, "As chief of staff, no I did not coordinate those efforts."
The prosecution asked Meadows if he had a personal interest in Trump staying in office. He responded, "Wanting him to stay in office? Certainly."
The prosecution then asked if keeping his job depended on it. Meadows said yes, joking, "I can’t imagine that I would be chief of staff for Joe Biden … I was not on the shortlist."
Meadows testified that Trump’s focus on various allegations of election fraud played a role in Meadows being so involved in efforts to overturn the election. Meadows claimed, "They were consuming the president’s time."
-ABC News' Mike Levine and Will Steakin
Meadows addresses Hatch Act
Mark Meadows testified that the Hatch Act does apply to the White House chief of staff, but he said “there are some differences of opinion on how it should apply.”
Meadows insisted that when it comes to his interactions with people connected to Donald Trump's campaign, including Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, he said, "I didn't [see ] that as a violation of the Hatch Act."
The Hatch Act limits the political participation and speech of federal employees.
-ABC News' Mike Levine
Meadows dodges questions on if he believed Trump won election
Mark Meadows repeatedly dodged the prosecution's questions on whether he believed Donald Trump's claims about the results of the 2020 presidential election.
"He believed he won," Meadows said, to which the prosecution pressed, "Did you believe that?"
"I believed there were additional things that needed to be investigated," Meadows replied, without saying whether he personally believed Trump won the 2020 election.
The prosecution repeatedly pressed Meadows, asking at one point if he meant that he did not have enough information to come to his own conclusion.
Meadows again deflected, saying there were a number of allegations, but he believed the signature verification issue in Fulton County, Georgia, had more credibility than the other allegations.
-ABC News' Soorin Kim