his opening move in the Fulton County election# interference case.

Meadows took the stand himself.

For nearly four hours yesterday, he testified# he was just following orders from Donald Trump## in helping to orchestrate efforts to investigate# alleged fraud in the 2020 election, actions that## prosecutors described as part of a criminal# conspiracy to overturn the election results.

Meadows took the stand to argue that the criminal# case against him should be moved to federal court.

For insight, we turn now to former# federal prosecutor Chuck Rosenberg.

Chuck, it's always great to see you.

And as you well kn especially during pretrial motions.

Was testifying# Mark Meadows' only chance to get this case moved?

CHUCK ROSENBERG, Former U.S.# Attorney: No.

He had options.

And you're right, Geoff.

It is a risk.

anything he said in this particular hearing# could be used against him by prosecutors in a## trial?

Did he have to testify?

No, there are# other ways for his team to have adduced the## evidence that they wanted to use to show# that he was a federal official and acting## within the scope of his duty in his efforts# to get his case removed to federal court.

They must have made a calculation that the best# way to do that would be for him to testify.

GEOFF BENNETT: So what is the benefit for Mark## Meadows if this case is moved from# Fulton Cou CHUCK ROSENBERG: That's a great question.

So, if he su pursuant to the Supremacy Clause.

He could argue# that, because he was a federal official acting## in -- within the scope of his federal duty,# the case against him ought to be dismissed.

So what you should expect, if he# succeeds in getting the case removed,## is that he would then move the federal# court to dismiss the indictment against him.

GEOFF BENNETT: Meadows' testimony was contradicted# immediately on the stand from testimony from## Brad Raffensperger, the top Republican in# Georgia who oversees that state's elections.

And whereas Meadows was saying, I was just doing# my job, Raffensperger said -- quote -- he didn't## think it was "appropriate" to talk to Meadows# while Donald Trump condemned contesting the## state's results.

He initially tried to avoid# that phone call.

He characterized it as a## campaign call.

And he also said -- quote --# "Outreach to this extent was extraordinary."

How might a judge weigh those# competing and conflicting testimonies?

CHUCK ROSENBERG: Well, that gets# to the crux of Meadows' argument.

If, in fact, he was not acting within the# scope of his dut the White House chief of staff, it's going to# be very hard for him to get his case removed.

I am sure, from Mr. Raffensperge 's point of view,# he had never seen anything quite like it.

By the## way, witnesses do contradict one another.

That# happens.

It's not unusual.

It doesn't mean that## either is lying.

They certainly have a different# perspective on what happened.

But this is the key## to Mr. Meadows efforts to get the case removed,# that he was acting within the scope of his duties.

And Mr. Raffensperger was saying, not in my# opinion.

It seemed to be far outside of his lane.

GEOFF BENNETT: If the judge in this case# says this case will remain in Fulton County,## Georgia, could the Meadows team appeal# all the way up to the Supreme Court?

Is delay part of the strategy here?

CHUCK ROSENBERG: Well, delay always inures to the## benefit of defendants.

It's# sort of a univ So, if Mr. Meadows loses his motion# to remove his case to federal co he can take an appeal.

It doesn't# have to take a long time.

The record## in this case is going to be relatively# small.

It's that one day of testimony and## the pleadings that each side filed.

I imagined# the 11th Circuit, the federal circuit that## sits over the Atlanta federal courts, could# hear this and decide this relatively quickly.

GEOFF BENNETT: There were# conservative commentators## today making the case that the DA, Fani Willis,## overplayed her hand in charging Meadows because# it creat Do you see it that way?

And could she have brought## this sweeping racketeering charge# without incl CHUCK ROSENBERG: Well, if you include# federal defendants in the state case,## you ought to expect this sort of motion.

Did she overplay her hand?

Too early to tell.# We have to see what evidence is adduced at the trial and ultimately# what a jury does with the case before it.

It's a## broad case.

You can contrast it, Geoff, of course,# to the case that Jack Smith, the special counsel,## brought against Mr. Trump in federal court in# Washington, D.C., four counts, one defendant.

That's a streamlined case.

Look, I can# argue the pros and cons of the either,## but whether or not she overplayed her hand,# I guess I would say, to be determined.

GEOFF BENNETT: And the judge# in this case made the point## that it will continue as he makes this# CHUCK ROSENBERG: That's right.

He t remove it, and he might, then that's# a different matter.

It's a different## book with a whole different story.

There# will be a different procedural posture.

But, right now, they're in state court.# They're defendants in a criminal case in## state court in Fulton County, Georgia.

And# they have to attend to that until othe GEOFF BENNETT: Chuck Rosenberg, you# make everything so much clearer.

(LAUGHTER) CHUCK ROSENBERG: Only occasionally.

(LAUGHTER) GEOFF BENNETT: Thanks fo CHUCK ROSENBERG: Yes, sir.