Republicans Charged in Fake Electors Plot Can't Afford Lawyers

Some Republicans charged in the Arizona fake electors plot have been unable to afford lawyers ahead of their scheduled court appearances, according to reporting from KPNX.

Brahm Resnik of KPNX news in Phoenix on Tuesday shared a thread of posts on X, formerly Twitter, discussing the arraignment of many defendants charged in a scheme to overturn the 2020 election results.

"UPDATE Former @AZGOP executive director Greg Safsten tells judge he can't afford lawyer, is declared indigent and gets public defender. Emails show Safsten was in contact w 'fake electors' architect Ken Chesebro," Resnik wrote in a post.

Newsweek reached out to the Arizona GOP via email for comment on Tuesday.

In another post, Resnik said that defendant Robert Montgomery, former chairman of the Cochise County Republican Committee, received a court-appointed lawyer, instead of showing up with one on his own.

Arizona's Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes last month indicted 19 people accused of participating in a plot to overturn President Joe Biden's 2020 presidential election victory in Arizona while naming former President Donald Trump the victor with fraudulent certifications. Trump was referred to as an "unindicted co-conspirator" in the indictment, but has not been charged.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes speaks outside the state Capitol on October 8, 2022, in Phoenix. Mayes last month indicted several allies of former President Donald Trump in a 2020 fake electors scheme. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes speaks outside the state Capitol on October 8, 2022, in Phoenix. Mayes last month indicted several allies of former President Donald Trump in a 2020 fake electors scheme. Mario Tama/Getty Images

Former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani was among the defendants indicted in the fake electors scheme, and in a social media post this weekend said he cooperated with the state Attorney General's Office. Giuliani has strongly denied any wrongdoing in the case.

"I had just found out they were looking for me 24 hours before a surprise party was given to me by 200 Democrats and Republicans," the former New York City mayor wrote. "I told them where I would be and I accepted service like a gentleman! I look forward to the day when the court systems are held accountable for abusing their powers."

Mayes offered a different explanation, saying on CNN that Giuliani was among the last defendants to receive his indictment and he was not accepting service, despite repeated attempts before he was tracked down.

"Our agents had traveled to New York City to try and serve him, we were not allowed in his building there where he lives—we stayed there for two days—we mailed him a letter, we made phone calls and ultimately we had to send agents down to Florida, where he went most recently, to serve him," Mayes said.

Mayes added that her office was finally able to track down Giuliani as he revealed his location while "podcasting," resulting in him being served with the indictment on Friday night.

Newsweek also reached out to the Arizona Attorney's General's Office via email for comment on Tuesday.