Donald Trump Jr. texted White House chief of staff Mark Meadows about a plan to use alternative Republican electors, messages obtained by Arizona prosecutors have shown.
The text was sent just two days after the 2020 presidential election and while votes were still being counted.
Although Meadows and Trump Jr.'s names are redacted in the document, the same text was obtained unredacted in 2022 by the Congressional January 6 Committee.
Donald Trump Jr. sent the text on November 5, 2020, two days before media outlets called Joe Biden as the winner of the presidential election.
In their criminal complaint, prosecutors say that on November 5, 2020, one of the people indicted in the case received a text that stated that President Donald Trump "should 'urge GOP officials in close states to expose shenanigans and, if necessary, to refuse to seat [Joe] Biden electors in the event of a fake count.'"
"That same day, [Trump's] son texted [Meadows] a more developed plan revolving around the electors," Arizona prosecutors state in a criminal complaint released on Wednesday.
A criminal complaint, which is lodged in court, sets out the background to the charges a defendant faces.
Trump Jr.'s text reads: 'It's very simple. If through our lawsuits and recounts the Secretary of States on each state cannot 'certify' that states vote the State Assemblies can step in and vote to put forward the electoral slate Republicans control Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina etc. we get Trump electors."
Newsweek sought email comment from attorneys representing Donald Trump Jr. and Donald Trump on Thursday.
The criminal complaint identifies President Trump as "Unindicted Coconspirator 1" and explains that "In Arizona, and the United States, the people elected Joseph Biden as President on November 3, 2020. Unwilling to accept this fact, Defendants and unindicted coconspirators schemed to prevent the lawful transfer of the presidency to keep Unindicted Coconspirator 1 in office against the will of Arizona's voters."
"This scheme would have deprived Arizona voters of their right to vote and have their votes counted. After the general election on November 3, 2020, Defendants raised false claims of widespread election fraud in Arizona to pressure election officials to change the outcome of a democratic election."
Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows were among the 18 supporters of former President Donald Trump who were indicted on Wednesday by an Arizona grand jury, accused in efforts to overturn the state's 2020 presidential election results, according to newly released court documents.
The charges include fraud, forgery and conspiracy, according to a statement from Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes' office.
Arizona was among seven states where Republicans are accused of acting as fake electors, allegedly signing documents falsely claiming Trump had won. In addition to Arizona, prosecutors have also handed down charges in Nevada, Georgia and Michigan.
Mayes announced last year that her office was investigating those who acted as electors and attempted to claim Trump had won the state in 2020.
On December 14, 2020, a group of Republicans met in Phoenix to sign a document falsely declaring themselves the "duly elected and qualified electors" for the state and claimed that Trump was the victor, and another group comprised of activists also signed a similar fake declaration, according to the criminal complaint.
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Sean O'Driscoll is a Newsweek Senior Crime and Courts Reporter based in Ireland. His focus is reporting on U.S. law. ... Read more
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