In a major legal setback, Mark Meadows, former chief of staff to Donald Trump, faced a unanimous 3-0 ruling from a panel of the 11th Circuit, known for its conservative stance. The judges rejected Meadows' argument that his actions in attempting to interfere with the 2020 election were within the scope of his job. This ruling adds to a string of similar decisions where individuals, including former President Trump, have failed to convince courts that their pre-January 6 activities were part of their official duties.
The opinion delivered by Judge Pryor, a staunch conservative who was previously considered for the Supreme Court, thoroughly demolished Meadows' claims. The ruling makes it clear that interfering with an election is not a legitimate aspect of any federal position. While Meadows can still appeal the decision, it is unlikely that the 11th Circuit would agree to hear the case, given the definitive nature of the unanimous ruling. The next option would be to seek the intervention of the U.S. Supreme Court, although the likelihood of the highest court taking up the case seems slim, given the absence of differing opinions and the clear lack of ambiguity in the ruling.
