Arizona 2020 ‘fake electors’ case: Jury indicts 11 Republicans for falsely declaring Trump's win

ElevenRepublicans,who had allegedly acted as fake electors in the 2020 presidentialelectionby submitting a document to Congress that falsely declared victory of former president Donald Trump over US President Joe Biden in Arizona, were indictedby Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayeson Wednesday (April 24).

The Republicanswere chargedwith conspiracy, fraud and forgery, as per the press release issued by the office of the attorney general.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Arizona becomes the fourth state to indict 'fake electors'

Thismade Arizona the fourth state in the United States to levy charges against “fake electors", who had allegedly announced Trump's false victory in their respective states during the 2020 election.

Also Read:Biden vows to hold Trump 'accountable' for his role in restricting abortion rights

Meanwhile, several of the nameswere redacted, however, Mayes said that they would be unredacted after "all defendants havebeen served."

The 11 Republicansindicted in Arizona included then-Arizona Republican Party Chair Kelli Ward, state legislators Anthony Kern and Jake Hoffman; Michael Ward, Kelli Ward’s husband; Tyler Bowyer, the Republican National Committee's Arizona committeeman and the chief operating officer of the Trump-aligned Turning Point USA; Greg Safsten, the former Arizona GOP executive director; former U.S. Senate candidate Jim Lamon; Robert Montgomery, the former head of the Cochise County GOP; and Republican Party activists Samuel Moorhead, Nancy Cottle and Loraine Pellegrino.

In December 2020, these 11 Republicans gathered in Arizona and signed documents which falsely announced Trump's victory inArizona,while claiming that they were “duly elected and qualified” electors.

"Today, Arizona's 11 Republican presidential electors met to cast their votes for President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence," wrote the Arizona GOP onX,in December 2020.

"With ongoing legal challenges to the 2020 presidential election still being heard in the courts across the country holding hearings on election fraud and voting irregularities,it is imperative that the proper elections arecounted by Congress," he added.

"We conducted a thorough and professional investigation over the past 13 months into the fake electors scheme in our state," saidMayes,in avideo while announcing the charges.

Watch:Donald Trump Unclassified Documents Case, Trump ignores advice to return classified documents

"I understand for some of youtodaydidn't come fast enough. And I know I'll be criticized by others for conducting this investigation at all. But as I've stated before, and we'll say here again, today, I will not allow American democracy tobe undermined,"headded.

Meanwhile, Trump, his former attorney Rudy Giulianiand his former chief of staff Mark Meadows have been listed as “unindicted co-conspirators” in the case.

(With inputs from agencies)