Rudy Giuliani pleads not guilty to charges in Arizona fake electors plot

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani has pleaded not guilty to election interference charges in Arizona after being served at his birthday party.

Mr Giuliani, former lawyer to Donald Trump, faces nine felony charges alongside 17 others for his alleged role in a 2020 presidential election interference plot. The former mayor appeared virtually at his arraignment on Tuesday in Phoenix, Arizona. His trial will begin in October.

The Arizona indictment accuses defendants of interfering with “the lawful transfer of the presidency of the United States, keeping President Donald J Trump in office against the will of Arizona voters, and depriving Arizona voters of their right to vote and have their votes counted.”

Arizona officials served the indictment to Mr Giuliani after his 80th birthday bash in Palm Beach, Florida on Friday. At the party, the former New York mayor served cake and belted a rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York.”

“He was unfazed and enjoyed an incredible evening with hundreds of people, from all walks of life, who love and respect him for his contributions to society,” Ted Goodman, a spokesperson for Mr Giuliani, said in a statement to The Independent after Mr Giuliani was served. “We look forward to full vindication soon.”

Others charged in the case include Mr Trump’s former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, the main election security lawyer for the Republican National Committee (RNC) Christina Bobb, and former Arizona Republican Party chair Kelli Ward.

Ms Ward also pleaded not guilty on Tuesday.

Mr Giuliani was the last defendant to be served after officials said it was difficult to locate him. A spokesperson for Mr Giuliani previously told The Independent: “We are LIVE every night, where we regularly announce our specific location,” in reference to the ex-mayor’s live broadcasts on YouTube.

More to come…