Rudy Giuliani, the one-time mayor of New York and attorney for former President Donald Trump, was hit with an indictment in Arizona as part of a larger probe into the 'fake electors' case, which sought to contest the 2020 election results. Giuliani, who celebrated his 80th birthday recently, was served with the charges right after his festivities concluded on Friday night as he was walking to his car, as FOX 10 Phoenix reported. He joins 17 other defendants in a case that questions the legitimacy of actions taken to dispute the certification of President Biden's victory.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes relayed the news on her social media, noting, "The final defendant was served moments ago. @RudyGiuliani nobody is above the law." Giuliani faces charges of conspiracy, fraud, and forgery, identical to the rest of the indicted group. Ted Goodman, a political adviser to Giuliani, after having been served on Friday night, stated, "We look forward to full vindication soon," according to a statement he gave the Boston Herald.
Alongside Giuliani, former chief of staff to Trump, Mark Meadows, is also among the indicted, and they both were added to the redacted grand jury indictment once they had been served, thus revealing their involvement in the case. Arizona is the fourth state to see charges lodged against Trump's allies over the 2020 election. Giuliani was also indicted by a grand jury in Georgia last year for allegedly attempting to manipulate state lawmakers into appointing pro-Trump electors against the voters' decision.
Giuliani's indictment, which is expected to be released in full on Monday, claims he "pressured" legislators and officials to alter Arizona's election outcome and prompted Republican electors in various states to side with Trump unjustifiably. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, Giuliani is expected to appear in court Tuesday unless a delay is granted. 12 other individuals tied to this wide-scale indictment have their arraignments set for May 21, including nine Republicans who falsely declared Trump's victory in Arizona.
The case against Giuliani and his co-defendants is anchored by the electoral certification document submitted to Congress on December 14, 2020, by 11 Arizona Republicans. This document falsely proclaimed Trump as the winner despite Biden securing the state by more than 10,000 votes. The group of lawyers, including John Eastman, Christina Bobb, Boris Epshteyn, and Jenna Ellis, faced arraignment, with Eastman pleading not guilty to charges of conspiracy, fraud, and forgery. "I had zero communications with the electors in Arizona (and) zero involvement in any of the election litigation in Arizona or legislative hearings. And I am confident that with the laws faithfully applied, I will be fully be exonerated at the end of this process," Eastman asserted outside the courthouse, as cited by the Boston Herald.