During his 80th Birthday celebration last week in Florida, Rudy Giuliani was served with notice of charges in Arizona involving his participation in efforts to overturn the 2020 Presidential election results in Arizona. This week, he pleaded not guilty on all nine charges.
Pleads Not Guilty on Nine Counts
The trial has been set for November. Giuliani did not travel to Arizona for the court appearance, but participated remotely.
Giuliani and 11 Co-Defendants Charged with Fraud
In addition to Giuliani, 11 other defendants are facing similar charges, including former Arizona Republican Party Chair Kelli Ward. All are facing charges related to fraud and forgery.
Profound Legal Charges Against High Profile Individuals
Ward and several other co-defendants are charged with falsely declaring Trump the winner of the election in Arizona. There are profound legal implications for individuals charged with these felonies.
Giuliani Handling Own Defense for Now
Legal counsel does not currently represent Giuliani but has signaled he will have an attorney by October. He also stated that he can handle his defense and has followed the course of the case and charges through the media coverage of the process.
Served Notice at Own Birthday Party
Arizona authorities had tried for weeks to reach Giuliani with a summons, and finally succeeded during the course of his 80th birthday party in Florida.
Judge Requires Giuliani Travel to Arizona, Post Bond of $10,000
The judge responded favorably to prosecutors’ requests for a $10,000 bond. The judge further required Giuliani to travel to Arizona for booking within 30 days.
Biden Victorious With Over 10,000 Vote Lead
The final tally of votes reveal Biden with a 10,000 vote lead. Despite this, Giuliani, Ward, and others continued in efforts to undermine the outcome of the election.
Ward Charged With Organizing Fake Elector Scheme
Former GOP Chair Ward allegedly organized fake electors with the intent of persuading Vice President Mike Pence to recognize their selection.
John Eastman Efforts to Prevent Congress from Certifying Under Microscope
Alongside Ward, John Eastman is charged in trying to keep Congress from certifying the election results. Eastman was the first arraigned.
Trump Not Charges, Determined to Be “Unindicted Co-Conspirator”
While Trump has not been charged in the Arizona case, his presence throughout is noted as he is considered an unindicted co-conspirator.
Arizona One of Four States Charging Trump Allies With Attempt To Overthrow
While the proceedings in Arizona are at the forefront of the media spectacle at the moment, Arizona represents just one of four states currently trying Trump and his allies with their efforts to overthrow the election results from 2020.
Fake Elector Scheme in Arizona
Another element in the Arizona case involves 11 alleged fake electors who signed a certificate falsely claiming to be actual electors from Arizona.
Unsuccessful Legal Challenges from Group of Fake Electors
As a group of fake electors, they filed a lawsuit stating that Trump was the true winner of the election in Arizona. This lawsuit, along with eight like it, was unsuccessful because they provided no evidence to support the claim. Even after losing the challenge, 11 fake electors still signed a false certificate.
More Trump Allies to Come Under Scrutiny in 2024
Arraignments are pending for several more individuals, such as Arizona state Senator Jake Hoffman, Trump Attorney Boris Epshteyn, and former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows.
