ONE Arizona A grand jury indicted seven attorneys and assistants involved Donald Trump2020 presidential campaign on Wednesday, including his one-time Chief of Staff, Mark Meadowsand his former lawyer, Rudy Giuliani.
The felony charges are tied to their alleged efforts to overturn Joe Biden's victory in the state and make Trump the winner — even though he lost the state by 10,000 votes.
The state's attorney general announced the indictment, which was obtained by The Daily Beast. Others charged along with Meadows and Giuliani are Jenna Ellis, Trump's campaign lawyer; John Eastman, a lawyer for Trump who gave him the now infamous “coup memo,” which included a roadmap to carry out the fake election plot and overturn the election; Christina Bobb, Trump's lawyer; Boris Epshteyn, top campaign adviser; and Mike Roman, a campaign aide.
Also charged was Kelli Ward, the Arizona Republican Party leader in the 2020 election and immediately afterward, who frequently lied about the election.
Trump was not charged, but the indictment lists him as an unindicted co-conspirator.
“We have conducted a thorough and professional investigation over the past 13 months into the sham election scheme in our state,” Attorney General Kris Mayes said in a video statement. “I understand for some of you today doesn't come quickly enough. And I know I will be criticized by others for conducting this investigation. But as I have stated before and will say again here today, I will not allow American democracy to be weakened.”
News of the indictment came just hours after Giuliani, Ellis, Meadows and Trump himself were named as unindicted co-conspirators in a Michigan case involving that state's sham election scheme.
Trump's allies have reportedly come up with a seven-state plan to overturn the Electoral College and swing the election in his favor, with Arizona — and its 11 electoral votes — being the one of the most important battleground states.
Michigan, Georgia, Nevada and now Arizona have all charged at least some people involved in their respective fake election schemes, while an investigation is ongoing in Wisconsin. Prosecutors in New Mexico and Pennsylvania announced they would not file charges in the matter.
