Rudolph W. Giuliani, along with 17 other defendants, has been indicted in the Arizona election interference case, with charges including conspiracy, fraud, and forgery in relation to attempts to change the results of the 2020 election in favor of Donald J. Trump. Giuliani was the last of the defendants to be served with the notice of indictment after multiple unsuccessful attempts. The indictment also names Mark Meadows, former White House chief of staff, and fake electors who acted on behalf of Trump to overturn his defeat in the state.
Giuliani was served with the notice of indictment on Friday night in Palm Beach County, Florida, as he left his 80th birthday party. Despite the timing, Giuliani’s spokesman confirmed he was unfazed and enjoyed the event. He is expected to appear in court on Tuesday, with a trial tentatively set to begin in mid-October. Authorities had attempted to serve him in New York City, through a phone call, and certified mail before successfully doing so in Florida.
The defendants are accused of pressuring officials responsible for certifying election results to change the outcome, including the governor, members of the State Legislature, and the board of supervisors in Maricopa County. John Eastman, another lawyer who advised Trump’s 2020 campaign, pleaded not guilty in the Arizona case. Other prominent defendants are scheduled to be arraigned in the coming weeks, including Meadows and Boris Epshteyn, Trump’s legal adviser.
Giuliani and other former Trump allies are facing similar charges in Georgia, while prosecutors in Michigan and Nevada have also brought criminal charges related to the campaign’s efforts to overturn the election results, primarily focusing on fake electors. Last year, Giuliani was ordered to pay $148 million to two former Georgia election workers for spreading lies about them trying to steal the election. Following this ruling, a federal judge ordered him to immediately pay, leading him to file for bankruptcy the next day.
The indictment served to Giuliani is part of a larger effort to hold those involved in the attempts to interfere with the 2020 election accountable. Despite facing legal battles and significant financial penalties, Giuliani remains defiant, as indicated by his behavior prior to being served in Florida. The case in Arizona is one of several across the country focusing on the actions taken by Trump allies to overturn the election results, highlighting the ongoing consequences of attempts to undermine democracy.
