Court denies appeal of decision that ordered Arizona’s fake elector case back to grand jury

Key Points:

• The Arizona Supreme Court ruled that a criminal case against 18 Republicans accused of trying to overturn the 2020 election results must be sent back to a grand jury, rejecting Attorney General Kris Mayes' request to bypass this step.
• The case, which alleges forgery, fraud, and conspiracy related to efforts to overturn President Joe Biden's narrow 2020 victory in Arizona, has been stalled for over a year amid multiple legal challenges and delays.
• Defense attorneys argue that the law permitted multiple slates of electors in disputed elections, citing a 2022 federal amendment limiting states to one slate signed by governors, and claim the charges lack merit.
• Similar cases in Michigan, Georgia, and federally against Trump have been dismissed or dropped after the 2024 election, but prosecutions related to the fake elector scheme continue in Arizona, Nevada, and Wisconsin.
• Of the 18 defendants, including former Trump aides and lawyers, three have resolved their cases, while the rest plead not guilty, some justifying their actions as precautionary measures pending court challenges before the January 6 vote certification deadline.