Former lawyer for Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, is one of 18 individuals charged in Arizona for allegedly attempting to illegally claim the state’s 2020 electoral votes for the ex-president.
The indictment, announced on Wednesday, implicates Trump as an unindicted co-conspirator, marking a significant escalation in legal proceedings.
This development stems from efforts by Trump and his allies to pressure election officials across several states to overturn Joe Biden‘s victory. Trump faces similar charges in Georgia and federal court for similar activities.
The court documents, filed in Maricopa County Superior Court, identify 11 defendants while redacting the names of seven others.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has indicated that the names of the redacted individuals will be disclosed once they have been served with the indictment.
Giuliani, whose name is among those redacted, has criticized the prosecution as politically motivated.
Another redacted individual is described in the indictment as the chief of staff in 2020, a position held by Mark Meadows in the Trump administration at the time. Representatives for Meadows have yet to comment on the indictment.
This indictment closely follows legal actions in Georgia and federal court, where Trump, Giuliani, and Meadows are co-defendants.
They have entered pleas of not guilty in both cases, with Trump characterizing them as politically motivated attacks.
Furthermore, the indictment alleges that the defendants pressured Arizona officials to alter the election results, implicating them in a false elector scheme.
Arizona, with its 11 electoral votes, was one of seven states where Trump allies attempted to sway the outcome of the election.
The charges include fraud, forgery, and conspiracy, carrying sentences ranging from six months to over 12 years upon conviction.
This marks the fourth state where participants in the scheme have faced criminal charges, underscoring the severity of the allegations. The federal case against Trump, led by Special Counsel Jack Smith, includes elements of the false elector plan.
