Ex-Trump aides Mark Meadows and Michael Roman plead not guilty to 2020 Arizona election interference charges

WASHINGTON, DC: Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and former Donald Trump aide Michael Roman have pleaded not guilty to nine felony charges for alleged efforts to overturn 2020 presidential election results in Arizona.

The trial date for the two defendants who appeared at separate hearings virtually is set for October 31, according to The Hill.

What is the 2020 Arizona election case about?

Meadows and Roman are two of the 18 individuals charged in the indictment related to steps defendants had allegedly taken to delegitimize President Joe Biden's victory in Arizona in 2020 and falsely declare Trump as the winner.

In May, former Arizona Republican Party Chair Kelli Ward, former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, and several other individuals charged in the case pleaded not guilty.

The 11 defendants involved in the case had reportedly signed documents claiming to be the legitimate Arizona electors and falsely asserted that the former president had emerged victorious in the state's 11 electoral votes. They also include attorneys Jenna Ellis, John Eastman and Christina Bobb, and Trump advisor Boris Epshteyn.

Epshteyn and another fake elector are set for arraignment on June 18.

What are the allegations against Mark Meadows and Michael Roman?

Meadows has been accused of working with Trump campaign members for the submission of fake electors from Arizona and other states to Congress to claim that the former president is the winner, according to prosecutors.

Former Trump aide Roman, who served as the director of Election Day operations for Trump's 2020 presidential campaign, was accused of working with other defendants in the Arizona election case including Giuliani and Epshteyn to organize the fake electors. 

In connection with efforts to overturn the Georgia election results, Meadows and Roman were charged and they have pleaded not guilty.

Arizona is among the five states where charges have been brought against individuals for their alleged efforts to overturn the election results.

Recently, Roman also faced a charge in Wisconsin on one count of forgery. His attorney Kurt Altman stated that the former Trump aide “has no connection with Arizona” and “why this indictment came in the first place is beyond us.” 

The attorney also shared that Roman would fight the charges.

Internet divided over Mark Meadows and Michael Roman pleading not guilty in Arizona case

Reacting to Meadows and Roman pleading not guilty in Arizona election case, one user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, "Americans are sick of the lawfare!!!"

"The fact that Trump and associates are all crooks is a well-known truth but the sheer size of his criminal organization is simply phenomenal like nothing ever seen before. #nhpolitics, be sure to #vote for #Democrats up and down ballot. #November2024" a netizen commented.

"Good because that’s what he did," a user tweeted while another user penned, "Dems are really nervous. They had 4 years to do their lawfare. The timing is not a coincidence."

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