Both Ellis and Epshteyn are among 18 defendants facing charges in the Arizona case regarding alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
Jenna Ellis, a former attorney for Donald Trump during his 2020 presidential campaign, pleaded not guilty in a court hearing on Tuesday regarding the “fake electors” case in Arizona. She is one of 18 individuals, including Trump adviser Boris Epshteyn, facing charges of forgery, fraud, and conspiracy related to their alleged attempts to influence the 2020 election results. The charges stem from actions taken to appoint alternate electors in states that Trump lost, including Arizona, which certified Joe Biden’s victory.
Ellis, who had already pleaded guilty to charges in the Georgia election interference case in 2023, is now involved in this separate case in Arizona. Alongside her, Epshteyn, a key adviser to Trump during both his 2016 and 2020 campaigns, also pleaded not guilty in the case. Both defendants appeared in court virtually. Epshteyn has been a prominent figure in Trump’s legal strategy, also appearing in court during the former president’s hush money trial in New York.
The Arizona case centers around the alleged efforts to send a slate of fake electors to Washington, D.C. after the 2020 election, despite Biden winning the state by over 10,000 votes. In the month following the election, 11 Trump supporters signed a certificate at the Arizona GOP headquarters in Phoenix, falsely declaring themselves as the state’s legitimate electors. The certificate was then sent to Congress and the National Archives, in an attempt to interfere with the certification of Biden’s victory.
Among the individuals also charged in the Arizona case are prominent figures like Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s former attorney, and Mark Meadows, his former White House chief of staff. Both were named in the state’s grand jury indictment from April. The case has added another layer to the ongoing legal troubles surrounding Trump and his associates in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential race.
The Arizona charges are part of a broader investigation into efforts by Trump and his allies to challenge the election results, particularly through the submission of alternate electors in key battleground states. The charges could result in significant legal consequences for those involved, further intensifying the scrutiny of Trump’s actions during the post-election period.
Ellis, Epshteyn, and the others charged in this case are expected to face a lengthy legal process as they prepare their defenses against the allegations. The case is part of a series of ongoing investigations into the Trump campaign’s actions in the aftermath of the 2020 election. The outcomes of these cases could have a significant impact on the former president’s legal future.