A three-day hearing in Phoenix concluded with prosecutors insisting that charges against Republicans accused of plotting to overturn the 2020 presidential race in Arizona are not politically motivated. The case involves at least a dozen individuals indicted in April, including former Trump aides, lawyers connected to Trump, and Rudy Giuliani, who is referred to as an unindicted co-conspirator.
The indictment alleges that Giuliani pressured officials to change election results, spread false claims of election fraud, and encouraged electors to vote for Trump. Prosecutors argue that the case is about enforcing the law against alleged fraud and conspiracy to change the election outcome. They deny any political bias, stating that the grand jury considered indicting more Republicans but ultimately did not charge Donald Trump.
Defense attorneys in the case argue that the indictment is aimed at silencing their clients’ constitutionally protected speech about the 2020 election. They cite an Arizona law known as an anti-SLAPP statute, which was amended in 2022 to protect individuals facing criminal charges. Prosecutors dispute the application of the law in this case, leading the judge to question the distinction between speech and illegal acts allegedly committed by the defendants.
The judge, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Bruce Cohen, is expected to rule separately on each motion to dismiss the charges. Former Trump campaign attorney Jenna Ellis reached a cooperation agreement with prosecutors, resulting in the dismissal of her charges. Republican activist Loraine Pellegrino pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge, becoming the first person convicted in the case. The trial for the remaining defendants is set to begin on January 5, 2026.
Former Trump presidential chief of staff Mark Meadows is seeking to move his charges to federal court, where his lawyers intend to seek a dismissal. Prosecutors and defense attorneys continue to argue over the application of the anti-SLAPP law in the case, with the judge yet to determine when he will issue his rulings on the motions to dismiss. The outcome of this high-profile case will have significant implications for the ongoing political discourse surrounding the 2020 election and attempts to overturn its results.
