Arizona Indicts 18, Including Giuliani and Meadows, in Fake Elector Scheme

An Arizona grand jury has indicted 18 people, including former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, and several other Trump campaign aides and Arizona Republicans, on felony charges related to their alleged efforts to subvert Joe Biden's 2020 victory in the state. The indictments accuse the defendants of participating in a fake elector conspiracy to award Arizona's electoral votes to Trump instead of Biden. Trump is listed as an unindicted co-conspirator in the scheme.

The charges, brought by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, include conspiracy, forgery, and perjury related to the creation and submission of fake elector documents in Arizona, a key battleground state that Biden won. The investigation uncovered evidence of a coordinated, multi-state effort to overturn the legitimate results of the 2020 election. "I will not allow American democracy to be undermined," Mayes stated, emphasizing the necessity of protecting the integrity of the electoral process.

The indictment focuses on the actions of the 11 Republicans who met in Phoenix on December 14, 2020, to sign a certificate falsely claiming they were the duly elected electors for Trump, despite Biden's victory. It also implicates Trump campaign aides, including Boris Epshteyn and Christina Bobb, who allegedly aided the unsuccessful strategy to pressure then-Vice President Mike Pence to accept the pro-Trump slate of electors instead of the true electoral votes cast for Biden.

Why this matters: The Arizona charges are part of a broader effort by prosecutors in several swing states to investigate the activities of the Trump campaign in the 2020 election and hold accountable those involved in schemes to overturn the legitimate results. Similar charges have been brought against fake electors in Michigan, Georgia, and Nevada, underscoring the severity and scope of the alleged conspiracy.

Key Takeaways

• 18 people, including Giuliani and Meadows, indicted in AZ fake elector scheme
• Charges include conspiracy, forgery, and perjury related to fake elector docs
• Trump listed as unindicted co-conspirator in the scheme to overturn 2020 election
• Similar charges brought against fake electors in MI, GA, and NV
• Case adds to legal scrutiny surrounding Trump's actions after 2020 election