A state grand jury in Arizona has indicted so-called “fake electors” who supported then-President Donald Trump in 2020 in an attempt to overturn Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election. The charges stem from a group of Trump supporters who signed a certificate claiming to be Arizona’s 11 electors to the Electoral College, despite Biden winning the state by over 10,000 votes. Among those charged are Kelli Ward, the former chair of the Arizona GOP, state legislators, party activists, and Trump-aligned individuals. The state’s Attorney General, Kris Mayes, emphasized the importance of upholding election integrity and preventing such attempts to undermine democracy.
The indictment in Arizona is part of a larger trend of legal cases arising from Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election as he seeks to regain office in 2024. Similar cases have emerged in other states where “alternate electors” falsely claimed Trump had won. In Georgia, attorney Kenneth Chesebro has already pled guilty to conspiracy charges related to this scheme, implicating Trump and others in the process. There was a plan proposed that then-Vice President Mike Pence could declare Trump the winner based on the existence of these alternate electors, which was ultimately unsuccessful and did not change the election results.
Trump’s loss in Arizona by a slim margin prompted efforts to pressure state officials to contest the results, including calls to Governor Doug Ducey during the certification process. These actions, along with the submission of false elector certifications, are part of a broader strategy to challenge the election outcome which ultimately failed. Attorney General Mayes has been involved in other election-related cases addressing allegations of fraud and irregularities, including charging local officials who delayed the certification of election results in Cochise County in 2022.
The charges brought against the “fake electors” in Arizona highlight the ongoing impact of efforts to overturn the 2020 election and the need to address such attempts to undermine the democratic process. The involvement of various individuals, including high-ranking party officials and activists, underscores the seriousness of the allegations and the potential consequences for those seeking to manipulate election outcomes. Attorney General Mayes’ commitment to upholding the rule of law and preventing future attempts to subvert elections is crucial in protecting the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring that the will of the voters is respected.
The indictment of the so-called “fake electors” in Arizona represents a significant development in the legal repercussions of attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. The charges against prominent individuals involved in the scheme highlight the serious consequences of efforts to undermine democracy and potentially influence election outcomes. As these cases continue to unfold in various states, the need for accountability and transparency in the electoral process remains paramount, in order to safeguard the integrity of elections and uphold the principles of democracy. Attorney General Mayes’ efforts to address election-related misconduct and uphold the rule of law serve as a crucial step in ensuring that such actions are not repeated in future elections.
