In a major development in the ongoing legal battle over the 2020 election, a grand jury in Arizona has indicted 11 Republicans for their involvement in a scheme to submit a false document claiming that Donald Trump won the state. The indictments, which include charges of conspiracy, fraud, and forgery, mark the fourth state to bring charges against ‘fake electors’ who attempted to overturn the election results.
Among those charged are Kelli Ward, the former chair of the Arizona Republican Party, state Senator Jake Hoffman, and Tyler Bowyer, an executive of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA who serves on the Republican National Committee. The indictment alleges that the defendants met in Phoenix on December 14, 2020, and signed a certificate falsely stating that they were ‘duly elected and qualified’ electors and that Trump carried the state. The document was later sent to Congress and the National Archives, where it was ignored.
The charges against the 11 Republicans come amid a string of indictments in other states related to similar schemes. In December, a Nevada grand jury indicted six Republicans on felony charges for their involvement in a false election certificate scheme. Michigan’s Attorney General filed felony charges in July against 16 Republican fake electors, and three others have been charged in Georgia alongside Trump in a sweeping indictment accusing them of participating in a wide-ranging scheme to illegally overturn the election results.
The Arizona charges are a significant development in the ongoing legal battle over the 2020 election and underscore the seriousness of the efforts by some Republicans to overturn the results. The indictments send a strong message that those who attempt to undermine American democracy will be held accountable.
Biden won Arizona by more than 10,000 votes, and numerous recounts and audits have confirmed his victory. The 11 Republicans who have been charged were among those who unsuccessfully challenged Biden’s victory in court. Their lawsuit asked a judge to de-certify the results and block the state from sending them to the Electoral College, but the case was dismissed.
Days after their lawsuit was dismissed, the 11 Republicans participated in the certificate signing, which formed the basis for the charges against them. The indictments are a major setback for those who continue to falsely claim that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump. They also underscore the importance of protecting the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring that those who attempt to undermine it are held accountable.
