Eleven Republicans in Arizona have been charged with conspiracy, fraud, and forgery in connection with their false declaration that Donald Trump emerged victorious over Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. These individuals, who were nominated as Arizona’s Republican electors, convened in Phoenix on December 14, 2020, to sign a certificate claiming that Trump had won the state. However, their claims were baseless, as Biden had secured a victory in Arizona by a margin of over 10,000 votes.
The charges brought against these individuals mark the fourth state to take legal action against “fake electors.” The video footage of the signing ceremony was shared on social media by the Arizona Republican Party at the time, but the document was ultimately disregarded by Congress and the National Archives.
While the names of seven additional individuals indicted in this case have been redacted from the records released by Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes, their identities will be disclosed once they have been served with the charges.
It is worth noting that the 11 Republicans who participated in the certificate signing had previously filed a lawsuit challenging Biden’s victory in Arizona. Their lawsuit sought to de-certify the election results and prevent the state from sending them to the Electoral College. However, U.S. District Judge Diane Humetewa dismissed the case, citing the Republicans’ lack of legal standing, untimely filing, and failure to provide factual support for their claims.
These charges in Arizona follow a series of indictments against fake electors in other states. In Nevada, six Republicans were indicted on felony charges related to false election certificates. Similarly, Michigan’s Attorney General filed felony charges against 16 Republican fake electors, while three fake electors in Georgia were charged alongside Trump and others in a comprehensive indictment alleging their involvement in an illegal scheme to overturn the election results. In Wisconsin, 10 Republicans settled a civil lawsuit admitting their actions were part of an effort to overturn Biden’s victory.
Former President Donald Trump himself was indicted in federal court in August for his role in the fake electors scheme. The indictment alleges that when Trump failed to convince state officials to unlawfully alter the election outcome, he and his Republican allies recruited a slate of fake electors in several battleground states, including Arizona.
It is important to note that no criminal investigation has been reported in Wisconsin, and charges have not been filed in Pennsylvania. In New Mexico and Pennsylvania, fake electors included a disclaimer stating that the election certificate was submitted in case they were later recognized as duly elected and qualified electors.
In Arizona, the previous Republican Attorney General, Mark Brnovich, conducted an investigation into the 2020 election, but the allegations regarding fake electors were not part of that examination, according to Mayes’ office.
In a separate election-related case, two Republican officials in Cochise County, Peggy Judd and Tom Crosby, face felony charges for conspiracy and interference with an election officer after delaying the canvassing of the 2022 general election results. Both officials have pleaded not guilty.
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As an avid supporter of democracy and fair elections, my personal goal is to stay informed about cases like this and advocate for accountability and justice. It is disheartening to see individuals charged with conspiracy, fraud, and forgery in an attempt to undermine the integrity of our democratic process. I plan to engage in discussions, both online and offline, to raise awareness about the importance of upholding the principles of democracy and the consequences of such actions. Additionally, I will continue to support organizations and initiatives that