Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani Pleads Not Responsible to Election Fraud in Arizona

PHOENIX (AP) – Former New York Metropolis Mayor Rudy Giuliani pleaded not responsible Tuesday to 9 felony prices stemming from his position in a scheme to reverse Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss in Arizona.

Ten others, together with former Arizona Republican Social gathering Chairwoman Kelli Ward, additionally pleaded not responsible to conspiracy, felony and fraud prices associated to the case. Giuliani appeared remotely for the impeachment listening to in a Phoenix courtroom. He and Ward’s trial is scheduled for October 17, about three weeks earlier than the presidential election.

The indictment alleges that Giuliani unfold false claims about voter fraud in Arizona after the 2020 election and chaired a gathering in downtown Phoenix through which he mentioned officers made no effort to confirm the accuracy of the presidential election outcomes.

He’s additionally accused of pressuring Maricopa County officers and state legislators to alter the leads to Arizona, in addition to encouraging the state’s Republican representatives to vote for Trump within the December 2020 midterms.

When he appeared, Giuliani mentioned he didn’t have a lawyer and that he felt capable of signify himself.

Giuliani mentioned he obtained a subpoena however didn’t have a replica of the indictment. Nonetheless, he mentioned he’s conscious of the allegations since he examine them.

For a number of weeks, Arizona authorities tried unsuccessfully to contact Giuliani concerning the prices towards him. Giuliani obtained the ultimate name on Friday night time, as he was heading to his car after celebrating his eightieth birthday in Florida.

Prosecutors on Tuesday requested for $10,000 money bail after itemizing the efforts made by Arizona authorities since April 23 and the issues they confronted. As an alternative, the choose requested Giuliani to put up a $10,000 surety bond and seem in Arizona inside the subsequent 30 days to be booked.

“He has no intention of complying with the authorized course of in Arizona,” prosecutor Nicholas Klingerman mentioned throughout his bail request.

Investigators weren’t allowed to enter Giuliani’s residence, a receptionist on the property refused to take the paperwork and the previous mayor didn’t reply to a number of emails, Klingerman mentioned.

The prosecutor famous that earlier than his arraignment, Giuliani talked about the Arizona case on a podcast, telling listeners he thought it was humorous that investigators could not discover Arizona . “That is excellent proof that if they’re so incompetent (that) they cannot discover me, they cannot depend the votes correctly both.”

Giuliani denied he was hiding from Arizona authorities and mentioned he has strict guidelines about who can come to his residence as a result of he has obtained loss of life threats prior to now and has no safety guards. He additionally ensured that the prosecution has political backing.

After Tuesday’s revelations, Giuliani’s spokesman Ted Goodman mentioned: “These allegations are just about a truncated model of what they’re making an attempt to make use of to intrude with the 2024 election and President Trump and anyone who’re keen to go towards the everlasting politics of the Washington class.”

Final month, Arizona authorities introduced felony prices towards a Republican who falsely submitted a doc to Congress declaring Republican Trump the winner in Arizona. The defendants embody 5 legal professionals related to the previous president and two former Trump associates. Democrat Joe Biden gained Arizona by greater than 10,000 votes.

The indictment alleges that Ward, a former state senator who served as Arizona Republican Social gathering chairman from 2019 to early 2023, organized fraudulent voters and persuaded West -President Mike Pence then introduced because the true voters of the state.

Final week, lawyer John Eastman, who devised a method to attempt to get Congress to not ratify the election, was the primary to return ahead in connection along with his ‘ case, pleading not responsible to the fees.

Trump himself was not charged within the Arizona case, however he was named as an unauthorized confederate.

Copyright 2024 The Related Press. All rights reserved. This materials will not be revealed, broadcast, transcribed or redistributed with out permission.