The indictments include high-profile and powerful Republicans in Arizona, including Kelli Ward, former chairwoman of the Arizona Republican Party, and her husband Michael Ward. Two current GOP state lawmakers, Jake Hoffman from Queen Creek and Anthony Kern from Glendale, were also named in the indictment.
The group of 11 was nominated to be Arizona’s Republican electors and met in Phoenix on Dec. 14, 2020, to sign a certificate saying they were “duly elected and qualified” electors and claiming that Trump carried the state. The Arizona Republican Party posted a one-minute video of the signing ceremony on social media at the time. The document was later sent to Congress and the National Archives, where it was ignored.
And in Michigan
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel charged 16 Republicans last year with forgery and conspiracy to commit election forgery for allegedly attempting to replace Michigan’s electoral votes for Joe Biden with electoral votes for Trump at the certification of the vote on Jan. 6, 2021.
During Wednesday’s hearing, which was part of preliminary examinations for the so-called fake electors, Howard Shock, a special agent for the attorney general’s office, also testified that former Trump attorney Jenna Ellis is also an unindicted co-conspirator.
Shock’s revelation was in response to questions from Duane Silverthorn, an attorney for Michele Lundgren, one of the so-called fake electors.
“Finally, former President Donald Trump?” asked Silverthorn.
“Yes,” Shock testified.
