A grand jury in Arizona has indicted 18 associates of Donald Trump for their alleged roles in attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Among those charged are former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and attorneys Rudy Giuliani and Boris Epshteyn, according to Politico.
In the indictment, which includes points about conspiracy, fraud, and document forgery, Trump is described as a co-conspirator but is not charged.
The grand jury (a panel of jurors who determine the justification for official charges) in Arizona has accused Meadows, Giuliani, and other Trump allies of interfering in the 2020 election.
According to the text of the indictment, the co-conspirators planned to prevent the lawful transfer of presidential power to retain the unindicted co-conspirator 1 in office against the will of Arizona voters.
Among the accused are lawyers John Eastman, Jenna Ellis, and Christina Bobb, Trump 2020 campaign staffer Mike Roman, as well as 11 Republicans who posed as electors for the state, despite Joe Biden's narrow victory there. Among the latter are former Arizona GOP Chairwoman Kelli Ward, state senators Jake Hoffman and Anthony Kern, and Arizona’s RNC committeeman Tyler Bowyer.
Initially, it was reported that the Arizona attorney general's investigation focused mainly on fake electors, but in recent months it has become clear that it was more extensive.
Accusations against the Trump team of election interference
The Arizona prosecutor is the fifth prosecutor to bring criminal charges related to Trump and his allies' extensive efforts to influence the results of the 2020 election. Before this, charges were brought by special prosecutor Jack Smith and state prosecutors in Georgia, Michigan, and Nevada.
Ellis pleaded guilty in Georgia and avoided a prison sentence, while Meadows, Giuliani, and Eastman did not plead guilty.
Other criminal cases against Trump
Recently, a criminal case has begun against Trump on charges of attempting to bribe porn actress Stormy Daniels to withhold information about their sexual relationship, which could have damaged his election campaign.
Read also this article by RBC-Ukraine.
