Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy, fraud and forgery, related to his attempts to overturn Arizona's 2020 election results.
The arraignment was held in a Phoenix courtroom, but Giuliani attended virtually. This follows Arizona officials working for weeks to serve the former mayor with the indictment notice - eventually serving the document as Giuliani walked to his car, in Florida, following an 80th birthday celebration.
Prior to this, Giuliani posted a picture of himself surrounded by several women, with the caption "if Arizona officials can't find me by tomorrow morning 1. they must dismiss the indictment. 2. they must concede they can't count votes."
— AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes (@AZAGMayes) May 18, 2024
The new indictments bring the total number of Trump associates facing prosecution for election interference to 50 individuals, across four states. Giuliani is facing an additional 13 charges in Georgia, including multiple counts of perjury and making false statements. He was also ordered to pay several million dollars to Georgia election officials whom he defamed in the aftermath of Biden's 2020 victory.
Giuliani's litany of legal troubles have left him strapped for cash - the former mayor recently launched a coffee brand as he struggles to pay the legal judgement, back taxes and attorney's fees.
In New York, Trump is currently on trial for alleged election interference in the 2016 presidential election. Prosecutors allege that Trump illegally reimbursed Michael Cohen for hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Cohen testified that Trump directed him to make the payments due to concerns that female voters would "hate" him if they heard the allegations.
Trump will not be indicted in Arizona but is listed as a co-conspirator in court documents. In addition to Giuliani, state senator Anthony Kern, former executive director of the Arizona Republican Party Greg Safsten, former chairman of the Cochise County Republican Committee Robert Montgomery and Turning Point USA executive Tyler Bowyer were among those charged. There are a further four individuals - including Mark Meadows and state senator Jake Hoffman - expected to be indicted in the nextr month.
