(WLOS) — President Donald Trump has issued pardons to several allies who supported his claims that the 2020 presidential election was rigged, including a name familiar to western North Carolina.
Mark Meadows, who formerly represented North Carolina’s 11th congressional district, served as the White House Chief of Staff during Trump’s first presidency.
After former President Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, Meadows was an outspoken proponent of the baseless claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Trump.
Meadows drew the attention of government attorneys when details that he was simultaneously registered to vote in North Carolina and two other states surfaced.
In 2022, then-Attorney General Josh Stein said there was not sufficient evidence to warrant the prosecution of Meadows or his wife, Debra. Stein said this determination came after the State Bureau of Investigation conducted an extensive investigation.
Read more: STATE DOJ WILL NOT CHARGE MARK MEADOWS, WIFE OVER VOTER FRAUD ALLEGATIONS
In August 2023, Meadows was indicted and accused of participating in an illegal scheme to keep President Donald Trump in power after he lost the 2020 election. In 2024, the Supreme Court denied Meadows’ efforts to move his case in Georgia to federal court.
In April 2024, an Arizona grand jury indicted Meadows and several others for their roles in an attempt to overturn the election. Meadows was charged with conspiracy, fraud and forgery.
He pleaded not guilty in both states.
TRUMP CHIEF OF STAFF MEADOWS SAYS ACTIONS LAID OUT IN GEORGIA INDICTMENT WERE PART OF HIS JOB
Now, as of Nov. 10, 2025, Trump has “pardoned” Meadows on a federal level.
However, according to reporting from the Associated Press, these pardons apply only to federal crimes, and none of the people named in Trump’s proclamation, including Meadows, were ever charged federally over the bid to subvert the election won by Democrat Joe Biden. This pardon does not affect any charges in the states.
This applies to Meadows, as he is not charged with any federal crimes that Trump’s presidential pardon can clear.
IS THIS THE HOME MARK MEADOWS LIVED IN DURING THE 2020 ELECTION?
Chris Cooper, chair of political science at WCU, commented on the situation:
“The point, I think, is President Trump trying to protect his people from what they consider to be illegal practices in the 2020 election, and President Trump wants to say, ‘I got your back,'” Cooper said. “He can get their back in terms of federal crimes, but state crimes, he can say it all day long, but it doesn’t mean anything legally.”
NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.
