Rudy Giuliani is set to appear in court in less than a week in the case related to Arizona’s fake elector scheme. But Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has not only not communicated with any legal counsel for the former mayor, her office does not even know if any exists.
“We are not aware of any counsel he may have in this case, and we have not had any contact with any legal counsel,” Richie Taylor, communications director for Mayes, told NOTUS.
In late April, an Arizona grand jury indicted 18 people — including Giuliani, former President Donald Trump’s former lawyer — in connection to their alleged attempts to prevent Joe Biden from rightfully being awarded Arizona’s electoral votes. Other defendants in the case include Trump’s former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, former chair of the Arizona GOP Kelli Ward and former Trump campaign consultant Boris Epshteyn.
The Arizona attorney general’s office has been unable to get ahold of Giuliani to serve him notice that he has been indicted and must appear in court by May 21, The Washington Post reported Tuesday.
Taylor confirmed that multiple attempts were made to reach Giuliani at his home and via telephone. He said there were multiple attempts to reach Giuliani by certified mail as well.
Taylor said that how someone is served depends on the individual but that lawyers for some of the other defendants in the case accepted the summons on behalf of their client electronically.
Sign up for the latest from NOTUS.
Giuliani is also facing racketeering charges in Georgia regarding his conduct after the election. He had trouble obtaining a lawyer in Georgia, citing financial difficulties, eventually finding L. Allyn Stockton Jr.
Former Democratic Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard said it was “astonishing” that someone as public as Giuliani had not been served, but ultimately, it would not delay the court proceeding.
Goddard said he could only recall one case where he was unable to serve someone. Orson William Black, a polygamist in Colorado City, was charged with felony sex crimes with minors, and the marshals there refused to serve him. Goddard said that ultimately, the office had to prosecute the marshals for not following the law.
Giuliani hasn’t exactly been quiet. He is now hosting a daily live show streamed on his X account. On Wednesday afternoon’s show, Giuliani said he had spoken to Trump earlier in the day.
—
Tara Kavaler is a NOTUS reporter and an Allbritton Journalism Institute fellow.