Several allies of former President Donald Trump, including Mark Meadows and Rudy Giuliani, are set to stand trial on January 5, 2026, on charges related to attempts to overturn the results of Arizona’s 2020 presidential election, a judge announced on Monday.
This trial date is scheduled just one day before the five-year anniversary of the January 6 Capitol riot, when Trump supporters, driven by his false allegations of election fraud, stormed the Capitol during the certification of the election results. Meadows, who was Trump's White House chief of staff, and Giuliani, Trump's personal attorney, are among 16 defendants who face remaining charges and have all pleaded not guilty.
The state has accused Giuliani of promoting false election fraud claims and pressuring state and local officials to alter the election outcome. Prosecutors also allege that Giuliani led a meeting in Phoenix where he criticized officials for not verifying the election results.
Other defendants, including those identified as "fake electors," are accused of signing a document falsely declaring Trump as the winner of Arizona's 2020 election.
Former Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis was indicted earlier but had her charges dismissed after pleading guilty and agreeing to cooperate with Arizona prosecutors earlier this month. A Republican activist who falsely claimed Trump won the election also pleaded guilty.
Although Trump is not a defendant in this case, he is referred to as "unindicted co-conspirator 1" in the charging documents. He faces separate charges related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in federal and Georgia cases.
The scheme involving alternate electors sought to have former Vice President Mike Pence certify slates of Trump-supporting electors in key states instead of recognizing the actual Electoral College votes for President Biden. Pence refused to do so on January 6, 2021.
