According to a source familiar with the matter, Michael Roman, a former Trump campaign aide who was indicted in the Georgia election interference case alongside the former president, has received a subpoena. The subpoena is part of a separate investigation in Arizona, which is looking into efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is currently conducting an investigation into the “alternate elector” plot in the state. As part of this ongoing investigation, a previously unreported subpoena has been issued. ABC News has confirmed the existence of this subpoena.
“We have plans to make an announcement in the near future,” Mayes revealed during a recent discussion about the ongoing investigation.
Attorney Kenneth Chesebro, who allegedly played a role in crafting the Trump campaign’s fraudulent elector scheme, recently participated in an interview with investigators in Arizona, as per sources familiar with the matter. Chesebro, who was indicted in the Georgia investigation, entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors, pleading guilty to a single felony charge and promising to cooperate.
According to a source, Chesebro was not legally compelled to testify in Arizona and instead chose to participate in the interview willingly.
Trump’s campaign spokesperson labeled the investigation as a “Witch-Hunt” and reiterated the unfounded allegation that President Joe Biden is overseeing it.
“The ongoing Witch-Hunts by Crooked Joe Biden and his Democrat allies are a clear indication that President Trump is dominating the political landscape. Despite their abuse of power to interfere in the presidential election, the American People are not easily fooled by Biden’s directed Hoaxes. This fall, they will hold Crooked Joe and his comrades accountable for their actions.”
ABC News reached out for comment to an attorney representing Roman and a spokesperson for the Arizona attorney general’s office, but both declined to provide a statement.
In a memo dated December 6, 2020, obtained by ABC News, Chesebro outlined a plan for “alternate” electors to convene, cast their votes, and submit their certificates for counting. Prosecutors argue that this proposal was intended to replicate the actions of the legitimate Biden electors, with the aim of creating a fabricated controversy on January 6. The plan sought to undermine the proper certification of Biden as the president-elect.
According to sources, witnesses involved in the Arizona investigation have been extensively interviewed about the connections between local Republican officials and the 2020 Trump campaign regarding the fake elector plan and the multiple lawsuits aimed at overturning the election in the state. Investigators have directly questioned some witnesses about the role played by senior advisers on the Trump campaign.
Roman, along with Trump and 17 others, faced charges in Georgia in August for their alleged involvement in attempting to overturn the state’s election results. In response to the seven counts he is facing, which include charges related to coordinating and appointing alternate slates of electors, Roman pleaded not guilty.
According to the indictment, Roman was implicated in the endeavor across various states.
“I allegedly wrote an email in December 2020, requesting a tracker for the electors,” Roman stated in the indictment. He allegedly provided instructions to individuals connected to the Trump campaign, asking them to update a spreadsheet that listed presidential elector nominees in key battleground states such as Georgia, Arizona, and Michigan.”
Prosecutors in several other states have also pressed charges in connection with the purported attempt to replace electors. In June, Michigan prosecutors filed felony charges against 16 Republicans for their alleged role in substituting Michigan’s electoral votes for Joe Biden with electoral votes for then-President Donald Trump. Nine of them have since entered pleas of not guilty.
In December, the Nevada attorney general took legal action against six individuals who falsely claimed to be Nevada’s duly-elected presidential electors. These individuals, known as alternate electors, were indicted for their deceptive actions. According to Politico, the attorney general’s office recently issued several grand jury subpoenas in relation to this case.
In November, Mayes expressed to CNN that the Arizona investigation had been thorough and comprehensive.
“We will ensure that we proceed at our own pace, utilizing the necessary resources to ensure justice is served, not just for the people of Arizona, but for the entire nation,” she stated confidently.
