Arizona Republican pleads guilty in ‘fake elector’ scheme

A Republican activist who signed a document falsely claiming former President Trump won the 2020 presidential election in Arizona has pleaded guilty, marking the first conviction in the state’s case against so-called “fake electors.”

Loraine Pellegrino, former president of the group Ahwatukee Republican Women, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of filing a false document, according to court filings.

Richie Taylor, a spokesperson for the Arizona attorney general’s office, confirmed Pellegrino’s guilty plea but declined to comment further.

Court records show Pellegrino’s plea change was entered Tuesday, and she was sentenced to unsupervised probation. The details of her agreement have not yet been posted by the court. She previously faced nine felony counts.

Joshua Kolsrud, Pellegrino’s lawyer, said in a statement that Pellegrino has accepted responsibility for her actions.

“Loraine Pellegrino’s decision to accept a plea to a lesser charge reflects her desire to move forward and put this matter behind her,” Kolsrud said. “She has taken full responsibility for her actions, demonstrating her commitment to upholding the law and contributing positively to the community.”

Kolsrud added that Pellegrino’s sentence, with community service, “acknowledges her remorse and willingness to make amends.” 

Pellegrino was charged alongside 17 others, including lawyers and aides to Trump — such as ex-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Rudy Giuliani — and 10 additional pro-Trump electors who falsely claimed Trump won the state. President Biden won Arizona by 10,457 votes.

The alternate electors scheme relied on former Vice President Mike Pence to certify slates of Trump-supporting electors in battleground states instead of the true Electoral College votes cast for Biden. Pence declined to do so on Jan. 6, 2021, the day of the election certification, after which a mob of Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol.

On Monday, former Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis’s charges were dismissed after she agreed to cooperate with state prosecutors. She faced nine felony counts including fraud, forgery and conspiracy.

As part of the deal, Ellis agreed to testify “completely and truthfully at any time and any place,” including at a criminal trial. She also promised not to “protect any person or entity” through false information or omissions. 

The case against the remaining defendants is set to go to trial in October.

Prosecutors in Michigan, Wisconsin and Nevada have also filed criminal charges related to the fake electors scheme, though the Nevada case was dismissed in June. State prosecutors have appealed that decision. 

Updated at 11:20 a.m. EDT