Arizona AG Mayes to Retry Fake Electors Case After Supreme Court Ruling, June 05

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes will restart her prosecution of 18 Trump allies accused of attempting to overturn the state’s 2020 election results. The Arizona Supreme Court rejected her appeal on June 4, forcing the case back to a grand jury. The defendants include former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. Biden won Arizona by 10,457 votes in 2020.

Why the Case Was Sent Back

A lower court judge ruled in May 2025 that the original grand jury was not shown the full text of the Electoral Count Act, a 19th-century law governing presidential election certification. Defense attorneys argued this omission violated their clients’ right to a fair process. The judge ordered the case returned to a grand jury to start over.

Mayes’ Failed Appeal and Next Steps

Mayes appealed the lower court ruling all the way to Arizona’s highest court, hoping to continue prosecution without restarting. The state Supreme Court declined to review the case on June 4. Her office announced it will now present the entire case to a grand jury again. The new process could extend into 2027 or 2028.

Political Pressure and Reelection Stakes

Mayes faces reelection this year as a Democrat. Her Republican opponents, Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen and military attorney Rodney Glassman, have both pledged to drop the case if elected. Similar fake elector cases in Michigan and Georgia were dismissed or dropped. Only Arizona, Nevada, and Wisconsin still have active fake elector prosecutions.

What the Charges Involve

The 18 defendants face felony charges of fraud, conspiracy, and forgery. They allegedly attempted to cast electoral votes for Trump and submit false certificates to Congress. Of the 18, two were Trump aides, five were lawyers, and 11 were Republicans who submitted the false document. Trump was named as an unindicted co-conspirator but faces no charges.

Final Thoughts

Mayes must restart her prosecution from scratch, facing a lengthy grand jury process that could drag into 2027 or 2028. With reelection pressure and Republican opponents pledging to drop the case, the prosecution’s future depends on voters and whether a new grand jury agrees to indict.

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