Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani was among those indicted in the Arizona election interference case announced by Attorney General Kris Mayes today, after the State Grand Jury has returned indictments in the ongoing investigation.
Named defendants include Kelli Ward, Tyler Bowyer, Nancy Cottle, Jacob Hoffman, Anthony Kern, James Lamon, Robert Montgomery, Samuel Moorhead, Lorraine Pellegrino, Gregory Safsten, and Michael Ward.
Seven other defendants have been indicted but redacted from the version of the indictment that was released but those names will be made available after all defendants have been served.
Mayes said the ongoing investigation into the fake elector scheme in Arizona Grand Jury has returned indictments against 18 individuals, including prominent figures closely associated with former President Donald Trump, for their alleged efforts to subvert the 2020 election results.
The indictment, released Wednesday, names 11 Arizona Republicans and seven former aides to Trump who are accused of participating in a scheme to falsely certify Trump as the winner of the state, despite Joe Biden narrowly carrying Arizona in the 2020 election.
Charges against the defendants include fraud, forgery, and conspiracy, ranging from class 2 to class 5 felonies. The indictment alleges a coordinated effort aimed at preventing the lawful transfer of the presidency, keeping Trump in office against the will of Arizona voters, and depriving citizens of their right to vote and have their votes counted.
Though the names of seven individuals remain redacted in the indictment, details suggest the involvement of high-profile Trump allies, including Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, and others. Trump himself is referred to as “unindicted coconspirator 1” in the document.
Among those facing charges are influential GOP figures such as a former Republican Party chairman, a Republican national committeeman, two state senators, and other prominent political operatives.
The grand jury’s decision marks a significant development in the investigation, signaling potential criminal consequences for an unprecedented attempt to undermine the electoral process.
The Democratic Attorney General has vowed to aggressively combat election conspiracies, signaling a departure from previous approaches.
The indictment outlines nine criminal counts against each of the 11 electors, including conspiracy, fraudulent schemes, and forgery. Lawyers for the defendants or the defendants themselves could not be reached for immediate comment.
The individuals implicated in the fake elector scheme include Tyler Bowyer, Nancy Cottle, State Senators Jake Hoffman and Anthony Kern, Jim Lamon, Robert Montgomery, Samuel Moorhead, Lorraine Pellegrino, Gregory Safsten, Kelli Ward, and Michael Ward.
Mayes’ decision to pursue charges follows similar actions in other states where electors attempted to alter the election outcome. Federal charges have also been brought against Trump himself in connection with election-related activities.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, emphasizing the importance of due process in resolving these serious allegations.
The indictment underscores the challenges of preserving the integrity of elections and holding accountable those who seek to undermine democracy.
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