A series of former Trump allies were indicted on charges of election manipulation

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democratic member, said on April 24 that the grand jury had approved the indictment of 11 local Republican members and 7 individuals who do not reside in this state.

The suspects are accused of participating in a plot to change the results of the 2020 US presidential election in favor of Donald Trump, including a plan to create a “fake electoral college” to replace the electoral college list. Electors are established by the Arizona state election commission according to voting results.

American media said that among those indicted were former Arizona Republican Party leader Kelli Ward, state congressmen Jake Hoffman and Anthony Kern, former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, and his former campaign advisor. Trump Boris Epshteyn and Trump’s trusted lawyer Rudy Giuliani.

“In the state of Arizona as well as across the United States, the people elected Joe Biden as president on November 3, 2020. The defendants and accomplices who have not been indicted did not accept this reality. They made a plan. plan to obstruct the transition of power, in order to maintain the position of ‘Unindicted Accomplice No. 1′, contrary to the will of Arizona voters,” Attorney General Mayes’ Office stated in the indictment.

Mr. Donald Trump was not named in the indictment. However, Washington Post Citing well-informed sources, “Unindicted accomplice No. 1” is a phrase referring to the former US president.

The Electoral College represents the winning presidential candidate in each US state. In the 2020 election, even though Mr. Trump lost to Mr. Biden in Arizona by more than 10,000 popular votes, his team of advisers still gathered a group of representatives to sign a document declaring him the winner without having to vote. approval by the state election commission.

Arizona Republicans argued that Mr. Trump was the valid winner because Mr. Biden “rigged the election”, but did not provide any evidence.

According to the investigation by special prosecutor Jack Smith, the plan to create a “fake electoral college” was carried out by Republicans in 7 battleground states that Mr. Biden narrowly won in 2020. This tactic is intended to Convince Republican voters that Mr. Trump is the real winner.

Lists of “fake electoral college” were compiled to put pressure on then US Vice President Mike Pence to change the results of counting electoral votes at the bicameral meeting on January 6, 2021, in The process of certifying the results of the US presidential election.

“The defendants defrauded Arizona voters. They claimed this was an alternate electoral college, valid only if litigation efforts successfully changed the vote results. In reality, the defendants conspired.” attempted to use a fake electoral college list to motivate Mr. Pence to reject Mr. Biden’s victory in the bicameral congressional session on January 6, 2021, regardless of the results of the lawsuits,” said Attorney General Mayes.

Mr. Donald Trump’s team and individuals involved in the prosecution in Arizona have not made an official comment.

Arizona is the fourth state to bring charges against former Republican officials and former members of Mr. Trump’s 2020 election campaign related to the “fake electoral college” case. Three states with similar moves previously were Michigan, Georgia and Nevada.

Former President Donald Trump still maintains that he is the valid winner in 2020, that the election was fraudulent even though all lawsuits related to this claim have been rejected by US courts at all levels.

Name (According to AFP, Washington Post, CNN)