GOP Activist Lorraine Pellegrino Makes History with First Guilty Plea in AZ Fake Elector Scandal

The first of Arizona’s 11 fake electors has pleaded guilty to attempting to undermine the 2020 election results. Lorraine Pellegrino, a conservative activist and former president of Ahwatukee Republican Women, admitted to a misdemeanor charge of filing a false instrument. This plea was made public by Richie Taylor, spokesperson for the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

In December 2020, Pellegrino was among a group of Republicans who signed a document falsely asserting that Donald Trump had won Arizona. This act came despite President Joe Biden winning the state by 10,457 votes. The false certificate was dismissed, and Congress certified Biden’s victory during a session that was delayed by the January 6th insurrection.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced in April the indictment of 18 individuals involved in the fake electors scheme. This group includes state lawmakers, lawyers connected to Trump, and two former Trump aides. Trump himself has not been indicted in Arizona, labeled in court documents as an “unindicted co-conspirator.”

Some defendants have launched a lawsuit to overturn their indictments, arguing that the case suppresses political speech. Mayes’ office contends that not charging Trump indicates the prosecution is not politically motivated. Earlier this week, former Trump campaign attorney Jenna Ellis reached a deal with prosecutors to drop charges against her in exchange for her cooperation.

Arizona is not the only battleground in this issue. Prosecutors in Michigan, Nevada, Georgia, and Wisconsin have also taken legal action against their own fake electors involved in similar schemes to falsely declare Trump the winner.