UMVA has learned that the Arizona Supreme Court has dealt a significant blow to Attorney General Kris Mayes' efforts to pursue 2020 electors in Arizona, denying her bid to revive the case after an appeals court dismissed it.
The case, which targeted 18 individuals, including high-profile figures like Trump White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, was indicted by Mayes' grand jury for challenging the 2020 election results and casting alternative electoral votes for President Trump.
The indictment alleged that the defendants, along with unindicted co-conspirators, schemed to prevent the lawful transfer of the presidency, with President Trump named as "Unindicted Coconspirator 1." The charges included conspiracy, fraudulent schemes, and forgery.
However, the case began to unravel when a judge allowed the defendants to argue that the charges were politically motivated. The same judge later recused himself after being accused of making biased comments about white men and demanding that other judges support Kamala Harris.
A subsequent ruling by a judge found that state prosecutors had improperly presented the case to a grand jury and failed to inform jurors of the Electoral Count Act, which effectively exonerates the defendants. An appeals court upheld this decision in September, refusing to consider the case.
Undeterred, Mayes appealed to the state's high court in November, seeking to revive the case. However, the Arizona Supreme Court has now rejected her appeal, dealing a significant setback to her efforts to pursue the 2020 electors.
This development marks a major victory for the defendants, who have maintained that their actions were lawful and protected under the Electoral Count Act. The case has been widely seen as a prime example of the lawfare used to target Trump supporters and allies.
The Arizona Supreme Court's decision brings an end to this contentious case, but its implications will likely be felt for years to come, particularly in the context of ongoing debates about election integrity and the rule of law.
