{"id":2331617,"date":"2024-08-27T10:43:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-27T14:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trial-date-set-for-january-2026-in-arizona-fake-electors-case-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-27T10:47:37","modified_gmt":"2024-08-27T14:47:37","slug":"trial-date-set-for-january-2026-in-arizona-fake-electors-case-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trial-date-set-for-january-2026-in-arizona-fake-electors-case-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Trial date set for January 2026 in Arizona fake electors case &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrial-date-set-for-january-2026-in-arizona-fake-electors-case-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2331617&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A judge in Maricopa County has scheduled a trial for January 5, 2026, regarding Arizona&#8217;s &#8220;fake electors,&#8221; who allegedly conspired to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.\u200d This \u200btrial will mark nearly five years since the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/powerful-l-a-democrat-and-great-friend-of-obama-indicted-on-federal-corruption-charges\/\" title=\"Powerful L.A. Democrat And \u2018Great Friend\u2019 Of Obama Indicted On Federal Corruption Charges\">alleged crimes occurred<\/a>.\u2062 The defendants, \u2064associates of \u200dformer President Donald Trump, face serious charges, with \u200can \u200banticipated 80 witnesses expected to be called, and the\u200b trial could last between eight to twelve weeks. <\/p>\n<p>Although \u2062Trump himself is not facing \u200dcharges in this case, he is identified in court documents as an \u201cunindicted co-conspirator.\u201d Prosecutors have indicated that further indictments, including potential charges against Trump, could arise depending on the evidence. In \u2062a notable development, Jenna Ellis, a former <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-trumps-impeachment-defense-team-collapses-ahead-of-senate-trial-top-lawyers-out\/\" title=\"BREAKING: Trump\u2019s Impeachment Defense Team Collapses Ahead Of Senate Trial, Top Lawyers Out\">campaign lawyer<\/a> for Trump, has agreed to\u2062 cooperate with\u2062 prosecutors in exchange for\u200b the dismissal \u200dof her charges, and another defendant, Loraine Pellegrino, has accepted a plea deal. \u2063 <\/p>\n<p>This case is currently the only legal\u2062 proceeding connected to Trump\u2019s efforts to overturn the election with a confirmed court date, amid several other ongoing legal issues involving Trump at both the\u2064 federal and state levels. The recent hearing included participation from various defendants and legal representatives, debating motions to dismiss the indictments, which the judge has yet to decide on.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Trial date set for January 2026 in Arizona fake electors case<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1737040\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A judge in Maricopa County set a trial date for Jan. 5, 2026, for the state&rsquo;s case against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/arizona\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Arizona<\/a>&rsquo;s &ldquo;fake electors,&rdquo; who were involved in trying to overturn the 2020 election.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>As it stands, the trial will now begin nearly five years after the alleged crimes were committed. The fake electors are allies of former President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Donald Trump<\/a> who were charged earlier this year for their role in a criminal conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020 election.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>There will be an expected 80 witnesses, and the case is expected to take eight to 12 weeks. Prosecutors were pushing to begin the case during the summer of 2025, but the defendants indicated they needed more time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Trump was not charged in this case, but he is described in court documents as &ldquo;unindicted co-conspirator 1.&rdquo; While the former president has not been charged, prosecutors in the state have not ruled out indicting more people, including Trump, if sufficient evidence against them emerges, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/08\/26\/politics\/trump-allies-arizona-election-subversion\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>CNN<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes&rsquo;s office scored a win in the case after former Trump 2020 campaign lawyer Jenna Ellis <a href=\"https:\/\/www.azag.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2024-08\/ELLIS%20-%20MOTION%20TO%20DISMISS.PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>agreed<\/a> to cooperate with prosecutors in exchange for the charges against her being dropped. She is expected to testify against other defendants in the criminal case as part of her deal.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Loraine Pellegrino also reached a plea deal with the state, agreeing to plead guilty to the false document charge against her, and in turn, the rest of her charges were dismissed.<\/p>\n<p>This case is now the only case stemming from Trump&rsquo;s efforts to overturn the results of the election with a court date. At the federal level, Trump has been charged for his efforts to overturn President Joe Biden&rsquo;s legitimate win in 2020 by special counsel Jack Smith. He has also been charged in Georgia by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis for his efforts to overturn the results of the election in Georgia.<\/p>\n<p>At the courtroom hearing where the trial date was set, some defendants, including attorney John Eastman and multiple Arizona Republicans who served as fake electors, were present. Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, and Christina Bobb, who serves as the top lawyer for the RNC on election integrity, attended the hearing virtually.<\/p>\n<p>During the hearing, lawyers representing Jim Lamon, a fake Trump elector in 2020 from Arizona, Giuliani, and Eastman&nbsp;all argued that their indictments should be dismissed, claiming the state&rsquo;s indictment did not demonstrate crimes had taken place. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Bruce Cohen did not make a ruling on Lamon, Giuliani, and Eastman&rsquo;s motion to dismiss, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.azcentral.com\/story\/news\/politics\/elections\/2024\/08\/26\/should-arizona-fake-electors-case-be-dismissed-hearing-set-for-monday\/74877121007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><em>Arizona Republic<\/em><\/a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Meadows&rsquo;s legal team is arguing his indictment &ldquo;squarely relates&rdquo; to his role as Trump&rsquo;s last chief of staff and, therefore, his case should be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/08\/15\/politics\/mark-meadows-arizona-election-subversion-federal-court\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>moved to federal court<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Nothing Mr. Meadows is alleged in the indictment to have done is criminal per se. Rather, it consists of allegations that he received (and occasionally responded to) messages from people who were trying to get ideas in front of President Trump or seeking to inform Mr. Meadows about the strategy and status of various legal efforts by the President&rsquo;s campaign,&rdquo; Meadows&rsquo;s lawyers wrote in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hunter-biden-art-dealer-served-jail-time-and-allegedly-defrauded-investor\/\" title=\"Hunter Biden Art Dealer Served Jail Time and Allegedly Defrauded Investor\">federal court filing<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is precisely the kind of state interference in a federal official&rsquo;s duties that the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution prohibits, and that the removal statute shields from adjudication in a state court,&rdquo; the lawyers continued.<\/p>\n<p>The trial date in Meadows&rsquo;s hearing to move the case is scheduled for Sept.&nbsp;5.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1737040\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1737040\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A judge in Maricopa County has scheduled a trial for January 5, 2026, regarding the case against Arizona&#8217;s &#8220;fake electors,&#8221; who attempted to reverse the outcome of the 2020 election. This trial will commence almost five years after the alleged offenses occurred. The fake electors, who are supporters of former President Donald Trump, were charged earlier this year for their involvement in a criminal conspiracy aimed at overturning the election results. The prosecution anticipates calling around 80 witnesses and estimates that the trial will last between eight to twelve weeks. Although prosecutors sought to start proceedings in summer 2025, defense attorneys requested additional time.<\/p>\n<p>While Trump himself has not been charged in this case, he is referred to as &#8220;unindicted co-conspirator 1&#8221; in court documents. Prosecutors have not dismissed the possibility of indicting more individuals, including Trump if new evidence arises.<\/p>\n<p>Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes achieved a significant development when Jenna Ellis, a former attorney for Trump&#8217;s campaign in 2020, agreed to cooperate with prosecutors by testifying against other defendants in exchange for having charges against her dropped. Loraine Pellegrino also accepted a plea deal by pleading guilty to one charge related to false documentation while having other charges dismissed.<\/p>\n<p>This case is currently unique among those linked to Trump&#8217;s attempts at overturning election results that have an established court date. At the federal level, Trump faces charges from special counsel Jack Smith concerning his efforts against President Joe Biden&#8217;s legitimate victory and has also been indicted by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis regarding similar actions taken in Georgia.<\/p>\n<p>During the hearing where the trial date was set, several defendants were present including attorney John Eastman and various Arizona Republicans who acted as fake electors; others like Mark Meadows and Rudy Giuliani attended virtually. Defense lawyers argued that indictments against Jim Lamon (another fake elector), Giuliani, and Eastman should be dismissed on grounds that no crimes had been demonstrated by state prosecutors; however Judge Bruce Cohen did not rule on these motions during this session.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Meadows&#8217; legal team contends that his indictment relates directly to his role as Trump&#8217;s chief of staff and should therefore be moved to federal court due to constitutional protections against state interference with federal duties. A hearing regarding Meadows&#8217; request is set for September 5th<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2910,"featured_media":2331618,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/arizona-fake-electors.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[4472,32493,39401,39400],"class_list":["post-2331617","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-arizona","tag-fake-electors","tag-january-2026","tag-trial-date"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/arizona-fake-electors.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2331617","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2910"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2331617"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2331617\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2331618"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2331617"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2331617"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2331617"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}