An Arizona judge has scheduled a trial date of January 5, 2026, for several allies of former President Donald Trump who are charged with a criminal conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election.
Arizona Superior Court Judge Bruce Cohen set the schedule during a Monday hearing in which key defendants, including conservative attorney John Eastman and multiple Arizona Republicans who acted as fake electors were present. Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, and Christina Bobb, top lawyer for the RNC on election integrity, participated virtually.
This hearing marks the first major court session since a grand jury indicted the Arizona fake electors. Although Trump himself was not charged, he is named as an “unindicted co-conspirator.”
Defense attorneys for the Trump allies argue that prosecutors are imposing harsh penalties to pressure defendants into cooperating.
Arizona’s Attorney General has charged the Trump allies with multiple felonies, a designation under state law suggesting that convictions could lead to prison sentences rather than lesser penalties for first-time offenders.
The hearing follows a recent rally by Trump in Arizona, a key swing state for his 2024 presidential campaign. Although Trump faces no charges in the Arizona case, the hearing highlights ongoing legal risks for his associates involved in the 2020 election efforts.
Grand jurors in Arizona had expressed interest in indicting Trump, leading the state’s lead prosecutor to argue against such an indictment and present his reasons in a PowerPoint, according to court documents.
Trump faces federal charges from special counsel Jack Smith and state charges in Georgia from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis for attempting to overturn the 2020 election. Prosecutors in Arizona will reference their request not to indict Trump during Monday’s hearing to counter defense claims of political motivations and demand dismissal of the case.
The Arizona investigation continues, with prosecutors keeping the door open for potential future indictments, including that of Trump, if new evidence arises.
Meanwhile, Arizona prosecutors are pressing ahead with their case against the 18 defendants, targeting a potential trial in early 2025. Earlier this month, Trump 2020 campaign lawyer Jenna Ellis agreed to cooperate in exchange for dropped charges and is expected to testify against other defendants.
Another fake elector, Loraine Pellegrino, reached a plea deal this month, pleading guilty to charges related to a fraudulent document, with other charges against her being dismissed.
Most defendants in the case, including prominent state Republicans and Boris Epshteyn, a former White House aide, have pleaded not guilty.
Mark Meadows’ attorneys argue that the Arizona indictment pertains to his official duties and should be moved to federal court. They claim the charges involve interactions related to his role as Trump’s chief of staff and argue that state-level prosecution interferes with federal duties, protected by the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
“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’s campaign,” the attorneys argued in a federal court filing.
“This is precisely the kind of state interference in a federal official’s duties that the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution prohibits, and that the removal statute shields from adjudication in a state court,” they wrote.
U.S. District Judge John Tuchi has scheduled a hearing for September 5. Meadows previously attempted a similar legal maneuver in Georgia after being indicted on related charges, but his motion was denied.
