Publisher for ex-Western NC Rep., Trump staffer Meadows: lies in nonfiction not 'trivial'

In the latest action in a lawsuit by a publisher against ex-Western North Carolina Congressman and former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, All Seasons Press said, "contrary to Mr. Meadows’ argument ... lying in nonfiction is not 'trivial noncompliance.'"

The conservative book company that has published the likes of former Fox News superstar Tucker Carlson made the statement in an April 15 motion saying the Sarasota County, Florida, 12th Circuit Court should deny Meadows' motion to dismiss its lawsuit against him.

In its Nov. 3 complaint, All Seasons said Meadows breached their agreement by writing in the supposedly non-fiction "The Chief's Chief" that Republican Donald Trump actually won the 2020 election — when in reality, Meadows believed his former boss lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Meadows denied that in a Jan. 3 motion to dismiss.

But in its April 15 response, All Seasons said Meadows "distorts the facts in the motion," as he did in the 2021 book.

"Media reports about Mr. Meadows’ words and deeds in the twenty-two months after he submitted his manuscript to All Seasons lead All Seasons to reasonably deduce that he likely lied in the Book when he wrote: 'I KNEW HE DIDN’T LOSE,'" said the response by Cape Haze, Florida, attorney Jennifer Kreder. "He seemingly lied again when he wrote that the Election was 'stolen' from former President Trump and 'rigged' with help from 'allies in the liberal media,' who ignored 'actual evidence of fraud, right there in plain sight for anyone to access and analyze.'"

ABC News reported in September that Meadows told special counsel Jack Smith and his prosecutors "he repeatedly told Trump in the weeks after the 2020 presidential election that the allegations of significant voting fraud coming to them were baseless, a striking break from Trump's prolific rhetoric regarding the election."

Meadows's legal team, which includes his son Blake, has said the lawsuit was an attempt to "recover investment funds on a book deal that was not as profitable as hoped."

It is not clear when Judge Stephen M. Walker will make a decision on the motion to dismiss. Should the suit advance, a court schedule shows an Oct. 21 trial date.

All Seasons says Meadows should return the $350,000 advance for the book, pay for $600,000 in the publisher's out-of-pocket damages and pay at least $1 million each for reputational harm it suffered and expected profit losses on the book, which All Seasons say plunged after Meadows' numerous criminal and civil cases.

As of January, “The Chief’s Chief” had sold around 23,000 copies, according to Circana, which tracks around 85% of the print market. Most of those sales came in 2021, when the book came out. All Seasons says it sold approximately 60,000 copies out of a print run of 200,000.

Elected in 2012, the Republican Meadows served four terms representing the 11th District, which included western parts of Asheville. A founder of the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus, he became Trump's chief of staff in 2020. He now lives in Pickens County, South Carolina.

Along with Trump, Meadows is facing election interference charges in Georgia. He was also charged federally, though it is believed he has entered into a deal to testify in exchange for immunity.

After the ABC report, Trump on Oct. 25 targeted Meadows, suggesting his ex-chief of staff would be a weakling and a coward if he testifies against him.

In a pair of Truth Social posts, Trump said he doesn't believe Meadows would turn on him, but noted his former chief of staff has been threatened with prosecution and might be tempted by an immunity agreement.

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Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Publisher to ex-Western NC Rep., Trump staffer: lying not 'trivial'