Rudy Giuliani, the former lawyer for Donald Trump and ex-Mayor of New York, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday in an Arizona election interference case. The case centers around a false slate of electors submitted during the 2020 Presidential election.
Giuliani, along with ten other individuals, was charged with counts of tampering with a public record, forgery, and changing the vote of an elector by corrupt means or inducement. The list of co-defendants includes Kelli Ward, Tyler Bowyer, Nancy Cottle, Jacob Hoffman, Anthony Kern, James Lamon, Robert Montgomery, Samuel Moorhead, Loraine Pellegrino, Gregory Safsten, Michael Ward, John Eastman, Boris Epshteyn, Jenna Ellis, Christina Bobb, Michael Roman, and Mark Meadows.
The indictment points to Bowyer, Cottle, Hoffmann, Kern, Moorehead, Pellegrino, Safsten, as well as Kelli and Michael Ward as part of a list of “fake presidential electors” within the Arizona Republican Party that cast votes for Trump. There’s also an allegation that the remaining defendants aided in the conspiracy, including Giuliani himself.
The group, from November 3, 2020 to January 6th, 2021, allegedly acted with the intent of preventing the lawful transfer of the presidency of the United States, to keep President Donald J. Trump in office against the will of Arizona voters. Additionally, they’re accused of attempting to deprive Arizona voters of their right to vote and have their votes accounted for under both the US and Arizona Constitutions, as well as the Arizona state law.
The alleged tactics involved raising claims of widespread voter fraud to pressure election officials into changing the votes. Prosecutors suggest that the defendants deceived Arizona voters by stating that the votes were hinging solely on a “legal challenge” as opposed to standard election procedures.
The standard election procedures, as outlined by the federal Electoral Count Act of 1887, stipulate that the presidential electors receive a certificate of ascertainment at least six days before these electors vote. The electors are determined by the winners of the popular vote—which would have been then-presidential candidate Joe Biden and vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Additionally, under Arizona law, the state’s presidential electors must vote for the winner of the popular vote.
It’s suggested by the prosecutors that the defendants hoped their voter fraud claims would prompt then-Vice President Mike Pence to reject the votes as they were officially counted in 2021, thereby inhibiting Biden and Harris from assuming their offices.
Giuliani’s court appearance followed his weeks-long attempt to dodge a court summons. His efforts almost resulted in the case being dismissed, as Arizona prosecutors were unable to properly serve him. Giuliani chose to appear in court without counsel, asserting that he could “handle the arraignment myself.”
The trial of Giuliani and the other defendants is scheduled to commence on October 10, 2024.