As state prosecutors continue to probe the aftermath of the 2020 election, the list of individuals indicted in connection with the “fake electors” scheme—a plan to overturn President Joe Biden’s legitimate victory—continues to grow. The latest announcement comes from Arizona, where State Attorney General Kris Mayes revealed indictments against several key figures linked to former President Donald Trump, adding to the charges already filed in other states.
This complex legal saga now features an array of individuals ranging from political activists and state legislators to high-profile attorneys and former Trump aides. In total, 36 individuals have now been criminally charged across various states, with each case spinning a thread in the larger tapestry of alleged attempts to subvert American democracy.
In Arizona, the slate includes State Sen. Jake Hoffman, State Sen. Anthony Kern—who is currently running for a seat in the US Congress—and Kelli Ward, the former chair of the Arizona Republican Party. These individuals, along with others, now face charges of conspiracy, fraud, and forgery, according to the grand jury’s indictment. Notably, the indictment refers to Trump as an “unindicted co-conspirator,” a term that underscores his central but as-yet legally unresolved role in the narrative.
The scheme’s apparent design was to assemble alternate slates of electors in battleground states won by Biden, then to present these slates to Congress and the Vice President, thus throwing the official Electoral College count into question. This would, in theory, either overturn the election results or force a state-by-state vote in Congress. Statements within the indictments emphasize the false nature of these elector slates, clearly stating they were not “duly elected and qualified.”
The efforts to pursue accountability for these alleged fraudulent activities stretch beyond Arizona. In Michigan, Georgia, and Nevada, state officials have brought forward their cases against other “fake electors.” These actions signal that officials are willing to take significant legal steps to address what many view as an assault on the electoral process.
The Arizona charges also bring renewed attention to Trump’s inner circle. The indictment reveals Trump aides, including Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows, have been implicated in the scheme. Giuliani has notably been characterized in the indictment as having played a pivotal role in disseminating false claims of election fraud. Meadows is described as having worked with Trump campaign members to coordinate and implement the false elector votes.
Defendants and their supporters have vocally criticized the charges, characterizing them as politically motivated and an abuse of prosecutorial power. These rebukes exemplify the contentious political atmosphere surrounding the indictments.
Relevant articles:
– A physician, a lawyer, a CEO: the 84 fake electors who allegedly tried to steal the 2020 election, theguardian.com, 04/27/2024
– Mark Meadows, Rudy Giuliani and Arizona ‘fake electors’ charged with state crimes, NBC News, Wed, 24 Apr 2024 23:10:00 GMT
– Election interference case: Arizona indicts 18, including Giuliani and Meadows, The Associated Press, Thu, 25 Apr 2024 03:34:00 GMT
– Giuliani, Meadows indicted in Arizona fake elector scheme; Trump unindicted co-conspirator, ABC News, Thu, 25 Apr 2024 03:33:45 GMT
– 18 indicted in alleged 2020 fake Arizona elector scheme tied to Trump, AG announces, CBS News, Thu, 25 Apr 2024 17:34:51 GMT