Arizona has become the fourth state to file criminal charges against alleged ‘fake electors’ who attempted to falsely represent themselves as electors for Donald Trump in the 2020 election. The charges stem from the widespread efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the election, which Joe Biden won. In December 2020, 11 Republican individuals, including then-Arizona Republican Party Chair Kelli Ward and two Republican lawmakers, met and signed documents falsely claiming they were the rightful electors for Arizona. Their actions were part of a larger effort by Trump supporters to create an alternate set of electors in states that Biden had won. The charges in Arizona mirror those in other states, such as Nevada, Michigan, and Georgia, where similar allegations of fraud have been made. All defendants in these cases have pleaded not guilty, with some opting for plea deals to testify in the Georgia case. It remains to be seen what impact these charges will have on the broader investigation into Trump’s role in the 2020 election, but they represent a significant step in holding accountable those involved in the ‘fake electors’ scheme.
Arizona Charges 11 ‘Fake Electors’ for 2020 Election Scheme
