Prosecutors in Arizona’s fake electors case dispute defendants’ allegations of a political motive

PHOENIX (AP) — A three-day hearing on whether to dismiss charges against Republicans accused of plotting to overturn the results of the close 2020 presidential race in Arizona concluded Wednesday with prosecutors insisting their case is not politically motivated after defendants argued their alleged conduct was constitutionally protected free speech.

What’s the case about?

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Bruce Cohen is considering requests from at least a dozen of 18 people indicted in April to dismiss charges of fraud, conspiracy and forgery. Those charged in the case include 11 people who submitted a document falsely claiming Donald Trump defeated Joe Biden in Arizona, two former Trump aides and five lawyers connected to Trump, including Rudy Giuliani.

Trump was not charged but was referred to as an unindicted co-conspirator in the indictment.

The indictment alleges that Giuliani pressured Maricopa County officials and state legislators to change the election results and encouraged Republican electors in the state to vote for Trump in mid-December 2020. The indictment says Giuliani spread false claims of election fraud in Arizona and presided over a downtown Phoenix gathering where he claimed officials made no effort to determine the accuracy of presidential election results.

Prosecutors insist the case is not politically motivated

Prosecutor Nicholas Klingerman told the judge Wednesday that it was an Arizona grand jury that issued the indictments and that the prosecution is not driven by animus for Republicans.

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