Former Donald Trump presidential chief of staff Mark Meadows and Trump 2020 Election Day operations director Michael Roman pleaded not guilty to nine felony charges in Phoenix for their involvement in an attempt to overturn Trump's Arizona election loss to Joe Biden. The plea was entered during separate videoconference hearings before Maricopa County Superior Court Commissioner Shellie Smith, who scheduled a trial date for October 31.
The indictment alleges that Meadows collaborated with other Trump campaign members to submit names of fake electors from Arizona and other states to Congress in an effort to maintain Trump in office despite his defeat in the November 2020 election. It also states that Meadows acknowledged to a White House staff member in early November 2020 that Trump had lost the election.
Michael Roman is accused of working closely with Trump lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Boris Epshteyn to coordinate the fake electors' votes in Arizona and six other states. Giuliani, who previously pleaded not guilty to similar charges, is among several individuals facing felony charges related to the fake electors scheme.
In addition to Arizona, criminal charges have been filed in other states such as Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin in connection with the fake electors effort. Roman was recently charged in Wisconsin with forgery for allegedly delivering fake elector paperwork to a Pennsylvania congressman's staffer on January 6, 2021, during the certification of election results by Congress.
Both Meadows and Roman had previously pleaded not guilty in Georgia state court to charges related to their involvement in attempting to overturn the 2020 election results. The legal proceedings surrounding these cases continue as the individuals involved maintain their innocence and prepare for upcoming court appearances.
