Former Donald Trump lawyer John Eastman pleaded not guilty in Phoenix on charges related to allegedly participating in a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election results in Arizona. A grand jury in Arizona has handed up indictments charging Eastman and over a dozen more Trump allies for their efforts to overturn the election results, including fake electors and individuals connected to his campaign. While Trump is not among those charged, he is referred to as “Unindicted Coconspirator 1” in the indictment.
Eastman, the first defendant to appear in court, pleaded not guilty and expressed confidence that he will be exonerated at the end of the legal process. He was released from custody without conditions, and the other defendants are scheduled to follow suit in the coming weeks. Among the defendants are Trump’s former chief of staff, Mark Meadows, former attorney Rudy Giuliani, aide Boris Epshteyn, and lawyer Christina Bobb, among others.
Each defendant is expected to be fingerprinted and have a mugshot taken as they are processed. Eastman’s indictment stems from his involvement in pushing fringe legal theories to overturn the election results and being deeply involved in the fake electors scheme. Legal analyst Michael Moore noted that the charges are similar to those seen in the Georgia indictment, involving alleged forgery of false documents and signatures.
Eastman devised a multi-step plan for Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the election and advised Trump on disrupting Congress’ certification of the results. The House select committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol highlighted how Eastman proposed a legal theory for Pence to block certification unilaterally, a theory that was rejected by Trump’s White House attorneys and Pence’s team but embraced by the former president. Despite wanting to continue practicing law to represent clients, Eastman’s request to reactivate his law license was rejected following a recommendation for disbarment.
The charges against Eastman and other defendants are serious and could result in consequences for their law licenses and liberty if convicted. The story has been updated with additional details, and CNN’s Jack Hannah contributed to the report. The legal proceedings in Arizona shed light on the efforts made by Trump allies to overturn the 2020 election results and the consequences they may face as a result. The involvement of high-profile figures such as Meadows, Giuliani, and Eastman underscores the gravity of the situation and the potential implications for those charged in the conspiracy.
