In a major blow to the ‘fake elector’ scheme, eleven Republicans in Arizona have been charged with conspiracy, fraud, and forgery for their alleged roles in falsely claiming that Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election in the state. This development marks a significant milestone in the ongoing investigations into efforts to overturn the election results.
The individuals indicted had been nominated as Arizona’s Republican electors and met in December 2020 to sign a certificate declaring Trump’s victory, despite his actual loss by over 10,000 votes. This document was then submitted to Congress and the National Archives, but it was ultimately disregarded.
The charges against these individuals are part of a broader trend of indictments related to ‘fake elector’ schemes in several states. In December, similar charges were brought against individuals in Michigan, and in Georgia, three fake electors have been charged as part of a sweeping indictment alleging a wide-ranging conspiracy to overturn the election results. Additionally, ten Republicans in Wisconsin have faced charges for posing as electors and admitting their actions were part of an effort to subvert Biden’s victory.
The Arizona indictments come after a thorough investigation by Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes, who emphasized that the fake elector allegations were not part of a previous examination conducted by her Republican predecessor. The charges underscore the seriousness with which authorities are treating attempts to undermine the integrity of elections and the rule of law.
The individuals facing charges include prominent Republican figures such as Kelli Ward, the former state GOP chair, and state Sen. Jake Hoffman. The charges are a significant setback for efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and a reminder of the importance of upholding the principles of democracy and fair elections.
