A federal judge denied a request by Mark Meadows to move his 2020 election case to federal court.

The Friday ruling keeps his case as one of former President Donald Trump's 18 co-defendants in Georgia.

Judge denies Mark Meadows' request to move his 2020 election case from Georgia to federal court; appeal filed https://t.co/f18p1DbY6B pic.twitter.com/mc9QFxbyGs

— News (@out_more_news) September 9, 2023

The ruling

"U.S. District Judge Steve Jones' ruling came in a 49-page opinion that said Meadows' duties 'did not include working with or working for the Trump campaign, except for simply coordinating the President’s schedule, traveling with the President to his campaign events, and redirecting communications to the campaign,'" Fox News reported.

"Thus, consistent with his testimony and the federal statutes and regulations, engaging in political activities is [sic] exceeds the outer limits of the Office of the White House Chief of Staff," the ruling added.

BREAKING: A federal judge has denied former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows' bid to move his Fulton County election interference case to federal court. https://t.co/4AhrSiMGVo

— ABC News (@ABC) September 8, 2023

Appeal to follow

"Meadows has already filed notice with the court that he intends to appeal the ruling from Judge Jones to the eleventh circuit," ABC News reported.

"The notice of appeal came just hours after he lost his bid to remove the case to federal court," it noted.

A judge has denied Mark Meadows’ request to move his Georgia election subversion case to federal court, ruling the Trump White House chief of staff must fight the charges in state court. https://t.co/xGQhRi5AKh

— The Associated Press (@AP) September 8, 2023

What about Trump?

"Trump has indicated that he is considering asking for his trial to be moved to federal court, and several other defendants have already made the request," the Associated Press reported.

"The ruling by Jones against Meadows could signal that the others may struggle to meet the burden required to win removal when their lawyers make their arguments before the judge later this month, though Jones made clear that he will assess each of those cases individually," it continued.

The failure to move the charges to federal court could make it more difficult to have the case dismissed. Meadows had hoped to assert executive privilege at the federal level due to his work on behalf of Trump when he was president.

The move could also signal concerns for other co-defendants in the case, including Rudy Giuliani and Jenna Ellis, who face similar charges for their alleged roles in the indictment.

The situation is far from over but the Friday ruling shows that the attempt to move the case to federal court will not be an easy one for Meadows or others involved in the Trump election interference case.