Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team has received cooperation from Mark Meadows, the ex-White House Chief of Staff who served under former President Donald Trump.
Initially, as detailed by The New York Times, Meadows declined to address inquiries from a grand jury, referencing Trump’s claims of executive privilege. Upon Smith’s team contesting these claims, Meadows opted to share information about Trump’s actions and the Mar-a-Lago document case.
The nature and scope of Meadows’ cooperation are yet to be defined, but he seems to have challenged Trump’s move to “declassify” certain national security papers post-presidency.
While Meadows hasn’t been indicted in D.C., he faces conspiracy-related charges in Fulton County, Georgia for election tampering.
The legal community has been discussing the possibility of an immunity agreement for Meadows, given his unofficial cooperation approach. His attorney, George Terwilliger, emphasizes that witnesses should remain neutral, aiming only to disclose the truth.
Following Meadows’ initial rejection, he complied with a court order to provide a comprehensive, privilege-exempt testimony. In Georgia, he chose not to testify against self-incrimination charges and pleaded the fifth, linked to claims of involvement in a fraudulent elector plan. Meadows is pushing to transfer the Georgia lawsuit to federal jurisdiction, citing immunity from his official functions.
Experts believe that Meadows’ role in the D.C. indictment will be pivotal for his legal outcomes.
