Rudy Giuliani and other Trump allies plead not guilty to alleged election conspiracy

Rudy Giuliani has pleaded not guilty to nine criminal charges for helping carry out a “fake voter” scheme to falsely declare Donald Trump the winner of the 2020 election in Arizona.

Nearly a dozen other allies of the former president also pleaded not guilty Tuesday to conspiracy and fraud charges.

Mr. Giuliani appeared remotely and without a lawyer at the hearing, where his trial date was set for October.

Mr. Trump has not been charged in this case.

Bankrupt Mr. Giuliani, who was once Mr. Trump's lawyer, said he was “capable of handling” the hearing in Arizona himself and did not want a court-appointed lawyer.

After he pleaded not guilty, prosecutors told the judge he had evaded attempts to serve him a formal court summons for weeks. Mr. Giuliani finally received the court documents on Friday, when they were served on him after his 80th birthday party.

For that reason, the judge said Mr. Giuliani would have to appear in person in Arizona within the next 30 days for booking procedures, such as taking a passport photo.

He will also have to post an apparent bond of $10,000. Bail bonds are often required of defendants considered to be a flight risk, meaning those who might flee the state or country to avoid prosecution.

That bond could prove difficult for Mr. Giuliani, who filed for bankruptcy last year after losing a $148 million defamation lawsuit.

In total, Arizona has charged 18 Republicans for allegedly claiming that Mr. Trump won the state in 2020, when in reality the Democratic candidate, President Joe Biden, won by more than 10,000 voice. It follows Georgia, Michigan and Nevada in pursuing Republican officials for allegedly trying to thwart Mr. Biden's 2020 victory and illegally keep Mr. Trump in power.

The state says 11 indicted Republicans submitted a document to Congress on Tuesday falsely claiming they were the actual voters of Arizona and saying they would vote for Donald Trump in the state.

Among them were Kelli Ward, former chairwoman of the Arizona Republican Party, and her husband Michael Ward, who have both pleaded not guilty.

Although the State has not charged Mr. Trump, he appears to be one of the unindicted co-conspirators listed in the comprehensive indictment released last month.

Four other senior officials, including Mr. Trump's former chief of staff, Mark Meadows, are expected in court in June. Attorney John Eastman was arraigned last week and also pleaded not guilty.