Former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani was arraigned on Tuesday on charges related to the Arizona alternate electors plan. Giuliani appeared remotely for the arraignment and pleaded not guilty to all nine charges, including conspiracy, fraud, and forgery. He posted a $10,000 bond and is required to appear in Phoenix, Arizona, for his booking photo within the next 30 days.
Last month, a state grand jury in Arizona indicted 18 people involved in the alternate electors plan for the 2020 election. The indictment includes GOP state legislators, former Arizona GOP chairwoman Kelli Ward, and Trump lawyers Christina Bobb, Jenna Ellis, Rudy Giuliani, and John Eastman. President Trump was named “Unindicted Coconspirator-1” in the indictment due to a phone call he made about ballot counting to former governor Doug Ducey.
Arizona’s Democrat Attorney General Kris Mayes announced the indictments last month, defending the timing just months before the 2024 general election. “Make no mistake, the charges are a warning shot to anyone who may want to challenge the 2024 election,” Mayes said.
Giuliani was served with the Arizona indictment during his 80th birthday event in Palm Beach last Friday. Sources close to Giuliani described the scene as being executed “like it was Normandy,” with officials from the Arizona attorney general’s office showing up at 11 pm and serving the indictment papers in front of his 75 birthday guests.
Photos of Rudy Giuliani at his birthday party in Florida tonight. I’m told guests had just finished singing “happy birthday” when agents served him paperwork on AZ fake elector charges.
Trump strategists Roger Stone/Steve Bannon were also present. pic.twitter.com/u2YqdgoSU6
— Rachel Louise Just (@RLJnews) May 18, 2024