Defense attorneys in Arizona's fake elector case call prosecutors politically motivated
Attorneys representing Republicans accused of scheming to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential race in Arizona are arguing that a grand jury indictment against their clients was politically motivated
PHOENIX (AP) — Attorneys representing Republicans accused of scheming to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential race in Arizona argued Tuesday that prosecutors were politically motivated in seeking a grand jury indictment against their clients.
Their charges came on the a second day of a hearing as Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Bruce Cohen considers requests from at least a dozen of the 18 people indicted in the case to dismiss charges of fraud, conspiracy and forgery. Cohen said he'll rule separately on each motion — potentially at different times — after hearing from the prosecution Wednesday.
Defense lawyers argued that Democratic state Attorney General Kris Mayes tried to use the indictment to silence their clients' constitutionally protected speech about the 2020 election and actions taken in response to its outcome. President Joe Biden won Arizona by 10,457 votes.
They said Mayes campaigned on investigating fake electors and showed a bias against former President Donald Trump and his supporters.
