Judge in Arizona 'fake elector' case sets trial date for 2026

Arizona Superior Court Judge Bruce Cohen on Monday set the trial date in the "fake electors" case, which saw charges brought against multiple allies of former President Donald Trump, for January 5, 2026.

The case includes charges against Trump's former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, and Trump attorney Boris Epshteyn.  Prosecutors allege that the Trump allies submitted the names of fake electors who would certify the election in the former president's favor, even though President Joe Biden won the state by 10,457 votes.

Trump has not been charged in the case, but has been referenced as an unindicted coconspirator.

The hearing in Phoenix also included several requests to dismiss the case, but the judge has not made a ruling on the dismissals so far, according to ABC News.

The attorney for one of the "fake electors" argued the case should be dropped against his client, because he was told that the documents he signed were "vetted out by lawyers all throughout the [Trump] administration," and that he was told by state party chair Kelli Ward, that he was a "duly qualified elector." 

"I think we can agree [my client] was not part of the Trump campaign," Jim Lamon's attorney said. "There's no evidence he talked to Trump on the campaign at all."

Former Trump attorney Jenna Ellis accepted a plea deal in the Arizona case, but the rest of the alleged participants have pleaded not guilty to fraud, forgery, and conspiracy charges. 

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.