Arizona prosecutors have recently issued grand jury subpoenas to individuals associated with Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign, signaling a significant advancement in the criminal investigation into attempts to overturn Joe Biden’s victory in the state. Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, is reportedly nearing a decision on whether to bring charges against Trump allies, including GOP activists who falsely posed as presidential electors in December 2020.
The investigation, described as “robust” by Mayes, is focusing on the so-called “alternate electors” who signed false paperwork claiming Trump’s victory in Arizona. Similar charges have already been filed against pro-Trump fake electors in Georgia, Michigan, and Nevada. Mayes’ team is also inquiring about Trump, former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, and Trump attorneys John Eastman and Kenneth Chesebro.
Chesebro, a key figure in Trump’s plan to organize false electors, has pleaded guilty for his role in Georgia and cooperated with investigations in Nevada, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Arizona Republicans, including former state GOP chairwoman Kelli Ward, have been implicated in supporting Trump’s post-election efforts. Ward and other false electors were involved in a late-2020 lawsuit seeking to pressure then-Vice President Mike Pence to block Biden’s victory.
The political landscape in Arizona has shifted, with the state becoming a focal point of Trump’s efforts to challenge the election results. In 2020, Arizona voted for a Democratic presidential candidate for the first time since 1996. Mayes, who won her race for attorney general by a slim margin in 2022, is now at the center of the investigation.
While federal charges have been filed against Trump and his allies, including a conspiracy to disenfranchise voters, Arizona could become the state to bring charges related to efforts to resist the 2020 election results. The investigation’s escalation adds to the ongoing legal challenges faced by Trump and his associates in various states.
This news comes amid a competitive 2024 Senate race in Arizona, where Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) faces off against Kari Lake, a staunch ally of Trump. The political implications and potential charges in Arizona could have ripple effects in the broader national political landscape.
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