Former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows pleads not guilty in Arizona's fake elector case

PHOENIX (AP) — Former Donald Trump presidential chief of staff Mark Meadows and Trump 2020 Election Day operations director Michael Roman pleaded not guilty Friday in Phoenix to nine felony charges for their roles in an effort to overturn Trump's Arizona election loss to Joe Biden.

Meadows and Roman appeared by videoconference for separate brief hearings before Maricopa County Superior Court Commissioner Shellie Smith, who set an Oct. 31 trial date.

Meadows and Roman spoke during the hearings only to respond to Smith’s questions with their names and birthdates. Their attorneys spoke for them to enter their pleas of not guilty.

The indictment alleges Meadows worked with other Trump campaign members to submit names of fake electors from Arizona and other states to Congress in a bid to keep Trump in office despite his November 2020 defeat at the ballot box.

The document alleges 11 Arizona Republicans submitted paperwork falsely declaring that Trump won in Arizona. Biden won Arizona by more than 10,000 votes. The indictment also says that Meadows confided to a White House staff member in early November 2020 that Trump had lost the election.

Roman is accused in the indictment of working closely with Trump lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Boris Epshteyn and others to organize the fake electors’ votes in Arizona and six other states.

Outside court, Roman’s attorney, Kurt Altman, promised to fight the charges.

“Mike Roman has no connection with Arizona. Why this indictment came in the first place is beyond us,” Altman told reporters. “But we’re going to face the reality and defend.”

Attorney Anne Chapman represented Meadows remotely during the hearing. She did not immediately return a phone call and email from The Associated Press seeking comment on her client’s behalf.

Giuliani, the former New York City mayor, pleaded not guilty in May to nine felony charges stemming from his role in the fake electors effort. The Arizona indictment also includes felony charges against Trump attorneys John Eastman, Christina Bobb and Jenna Ellis.

Epshteyn, Ellis and James Lamon, another Republican who claimed Trump carried Arizona, are scheduled to enter pleas on June 18.

Meadows and Roman previously pleaded not guilty in Georgia state court to charges alleging that they participated in an illegal scheme to try to overturn the 2020 election results.

Roman was charged in Wisconsin on Tuesday with forgery for allegedly delivering that state’s fake elector paperwork to a Pennsylvania congressman’s staffer to get them to then-Vice President Mike Pence on Jan. 6, 2021, when Congress was certifying the results.

Other states where criminal charges have been filed related to the fake electors scheme are Michigan, Nevada and Georgia.

Trump 2020 Election Day operations director Michael Roman appears via video during his arraignment in Maricopa County Superior Court, Friday, June 7, 2024, in Phoenix. Roman pleaded not guilty Friday to nine felony charges for his role in an effort to overturn Trump's Arizona election loss to Joe Biden. (Mark Henle/The Arizona Republic via AP)

Trump 2020 Election Day operations director Michael Roman appears via video during his arraignment in Maricopa County Superior Court, Friday, June 7, 2024, in Phoenix. Roman pleaded not guilty Friday to nine felony charges for his role in an effort to overturn Trump's Arizona election loss to Joe Biden. (Mark Henle/The Arizona Republic via AP)

Arizona Attorney General Criminal Division Chief Nick Klingerman, left, speaks during the video arraignment Mark Meadows, top right on monitor, former Chief of Staff to President Donald Trump, Friday, June 7, 2024, in Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix. Meadows pleaded not guilty Friday to nine felony charges for his role in an effort to overturn Trump's Arizona election loss to Joe Biden. (Mark Henle/The Arizona Republic via AP)

Mark Meadows, former Chief of Staff to President Donald Trump, appears via video during his arraignment in Maricopa County Superior Court, Friday, June 7, 2024, in Phoenix. Meadows pleaded not guilty Friday to nine felony charges for his role in an effort to overturn Trump's Arizona election loss to Joe Biden. (Mark Henle/The Arizona Republic via AP)

Mark Meadows, top center, former Chief of Staff to President Donald Trump, and his attorney, Anne Chapman, bottom center, appear via video during his arraignment in Maricopa County Superior Court, Friday, June 7, 2024, in Phoenix. Meadows pleaded not guilty Friday to nine felony charges for his role in an effort to overturn Trump's Arizona election loss to Joe Biden. (Mark Henle/The Arizona Republic via AP)

FILE - White House former chief of staff Mark Meadows speaks with reporters at the White House, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020, in Washington. Meadows appeared by videoconference, Friday, June 7, 2024, in Phoenix, pleading not guilty to nine felony charges stemming from their roles in an effort to overturn Trump's election loss in Arizona to Joe Biden. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The man who rammed a pickup truck into a crowd of New Year's revelers in New Orleans had suspected bomb-making materials at his home and reserved the vehicle used in the deadly attack more than six weeks earlier, law enforcement officials told The Associated Press on Friday.

Federal authorities searching the home of Shamsud-Din Jabbar in Houston found a workbench in the garage and hazardous materials believed to have been used to make explosive devices, according to law enforcement officials familiar with the search. The officials were not authorized to speak about the ongoing inquiry and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity.

The FBI investigation also revealed that Jabbar purchased a cooler in Vidor, Texas, hours before the attack and gun oil from a store in Sulphur, Louisiana, the officials said. Authorities also determined Jabbar booked his rental of the pickup truck on Nov. 14, suggesting he may have been plotting the attack for more than six weeks.

Authorities say 14 people were killed and about 30 were injured in the attack early Wednesday by Jabbar, a former Army soldier who posted several videos on his Facebook hours before the attack previewing the violence he would unleash and proclaiming his support for the Islamic State militant group. The coroner’s office listed the cause of death for all 14 victims as “blunt force injuries.”

Jabbar, 42, was fatally shot in a firefight with police at the scene of the deadly crash on Bourbon Street, famous worldwide for its festive vibes in New Orleans' historic French Quarter.

Authorities found crude bombs that had been planted in the neighborhood in an apparent attempt to cause more carnage. Two improvised explosive devices left in coolers several blocks apart were rendered safe at the scene, officials said. Other devices were determined to be nonfunctional.

Investigators recovered from Jabbar's rental truck a transmitter intended to trigger the two bombs, the FBI said in a statement Friday. It also said authorities found bomb-making materials at the New Orleans home Jabbar rented prior to the attack. Jabbar tried to burn the house down by setting a small fire in a hallway and placing accelerants to help spread it, the FBI said. The flames burned out before firefighters arrived.

Authorities on Friday were still investigating Jabbar's motives and how he carried out the attack. They say he exited the crashed truck wearing a ballistic vest and helmet and fired at police, wounding at least two officers before he was fatally shot by officers returning fire.

New Orleans police declined to say Friday how many shots were fired by Jabbar and police, and whether any bystanders may have been hit, citing the active investigation.

Stella Cziment, who heads the city's civilian-run Office of the Independent Police Monitor, said investigators are working to account for “every single bullet that was fired” and whether any of them struck bystanders.

Bourbon Street was solemn Friday. A day after the crime scene reopened to the public, locals and tourists stopped to pay respects to victims of the attack as the sound of bucket drums echoed. People shed tears while gathering at a growing memorial. Some left flowers and candles while others dropped to their knees to say a quick prayer.

“New Orleans is about having a good time, you know, just trying to live your best life," said Tony Lightfoot, who works in Baton Rouge and was visiting New Orleans with his son. He said the attacker “just decided to disrupt all of that.”

Thirteen people remained hospitalized. Eight people were in intensive care at University Medical Center New Orleans, spokesperson Carolina Giepert said.

The White House said President Joe Biden would travel to New Orleans next week. The president and first lady planned to visit Monday to “grieve with the families and community members impacted by the tragic attack.”

Police used multiple vehicles and barricades on Friday to block traffic at Bourbon and Canal streets as crowds of pedestrians swelled. Other law enforcement agencies helped city officers provide extra security, said Reese Harper, a spokesperson for the New Orleans Police Department.

The first parade of the Carnival season leading up to Mardi Gras was scheduled to take place Monday. New Orleans will also host the Super Bowl on Feb. 9.

“This enhanced safety effort will continue daily, not just during large events,” Harper said in a statement.

In a previous effort to protect the French Quarter, the city had installed steel columns known as bollards to restrict vehicle access to Bourbon Street. The posts retracted to allow for deliveries to bars and restaurants, until — gummed up by Mardi Gras beads, beer and other detritus — they stopped working reliably.

So when New Year’s Eve arrived, the bollards were gone. They were being replaced ahead of the Super Bowl.

Meanwhile, New Orleans City Council President Helena Moreno took steps toward launching an investigation of the attack. In a memo to another council member obtained by AP, Moreno said she was initiating the creation of a local and state legislative committee “dedicated to reviewing the incident and its implications.”

“This committee will play a crucial role in assessing our current policies, enhancing security measures, and ensuring that we are adequately prepared to respond to any future threats,” Moreno wrote.

The FBI concluded Jabbar was not aided by anyone else in the attack, which killed an 18-year-old aspiring nurse, a single mother, a father of two and a former Princeton University football star, among others.

Thirteen of the 14 victims have been identified by the New Orleans coroner’s office, with the youngest listed as 18 and the oldest 63. Most of the victims were in their 20s. One victim was a British citizen, 31-year-old Edward Pettifer of west London, according to London’s Metropolitan Police.

British media reported that Pettifer was the stepson of Tiggy Legge-Bourke, who was the nanny for Prince William and Prince Harry between 1993 and 1999, which included the time after the death of their mother, Princess Diana.

It was the deadliest IS-inspired assault on U.S. soil in years, laying bare what federal officials have warned is a resurgent international terrorism threat.

Mustian reported from Black Mountain, North Carolina. Cline reported from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. AP reporters Eric Tucker and Tara Copp in Washington; Sharon Lurye in New Orleans; Jeff Martin in Atlanta; Martha Bellisle in Seattle; Darlene Superville in New Castle, Delaware; and Russ Bynum in Savannah, Georgia, contributed to this report.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation released this photo on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2024, in relation to the investigation into a car driving into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. (Federal Bureau of Investigation via AP)

The Federal Bureau of Investigation released photos of surveillance footage that shows Shamsud-Din Jabbar an hour before he drove a truck down Bourbon Street, New Orleans, early Jan. 1, 2025.(Federal Bureau of Investigation via AP)

The Federal Bureau of Investigation released this photo of Shamsud-Din Jabbar on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2024. (Federal Bureau of Investigation via AP)

EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Security personnel investigate the scene on Bourbon Street after a vehicle drove into a crowd on New Orleans' Canal and Bourbon Street, Wednesday Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

A friend of Kareem Badawi, a victim of the deadly truck attack on New Year's Day in New Orleans, pauses at a memorial for victims after attending his funeral, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Friends of Kareem Badawi, a victim of the deadly truck attack on New Year's Day in New Orleans, pray at a memorial for victims after attending his funeral, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Friends of Kareem Badawi, a victim of the deadly truck attack on New Year's Day in New Orleans, place flowers at a memorial for victims after attending his funeral, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

A memorial on Bourbon Street sits at the site of a deadly truck attack on New Year's Day in New Orleans, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

A friend of Kareem Badawi, a victim of the deadly truck attack on New Year's Day in New Orleans, pauses at a memorial for victims after attending his funeral, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

A memorial on Bourbon Street is seen at the site of a deadly truck attack on New Year's Day in New Orleans, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Flowers lie in the street at the site of a deadly truck attack on New Year's Day in New Orleans, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

A couple pushes a child in a stroller on Bourbon Street at the site of a deadly truck attack on New Year's Day in New Orleans, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Friends of Kareem Badawi, a victim of the deadly truck attack on New Year's Day in New Orleans, pray at a memorial for victims after attending his funeral, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Nathan Williams, a University of New Orleans student, lights a candle at memorial on Bourbon Street for the victims of a deadly truck attack on New Year's Day in New Orleans, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

A woman places flowers next to photos of victim Matthew Tenedorio at memorial on Canal Street for the victims of a deadly truck attack on New Year's Day in New Orleans, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Alisa Kuhns, visiting from Santa Rosa, Calif. reacts at memorial on Bourbon Street for the victims of a deadly truck attack on New Year's Day in New Orleans, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Alisa Kuhns, visiting from Santa Rosa, Calif. reacts at memorial on Bourbon Street for the victims of a deadly truck attack on New Year's Day in New Orleans, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Katriel Faith Gibson, who lives nearby, reacts as she visits a memorial on Canal Street for the victims of a deadly truck attack on New Year's Day in New Orleans, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Katriel Faith Gibson, who lives nearby, reacts as she visits a memorial on Canal Street for the victims of a deadly truck attack on New Year's Day in New Orleans, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Flower pedals lie on the sidewalk at memorial on Canal Street for the victims of a deadly truck attack on New Year's Day in New Orleans, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

A memorial sits outside a restaurant along Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in New Orleans. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Sav Bennly sits in front of a memorial at Bourbon and Canal Street in the French Quarter, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in New Orleans. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Shawn Westbrook prays at a memorial to the victims of a deadly truck attack on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

A memorial to the victims of a deadly truck attack is seen on Canal Street in the French Quarter, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

A memorial to the victims of a deadly truck attack is seen on Canal Street in the French Quarter, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

A memorial to the victims of a deadly truck attack is seen on Canal Street in the French Quarter, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Kelli Galle, right, hugs her son Parker, left, as they visit a memorial to the victims of a deadly truck attack on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Eddie Williams lights candles for his uncle, who was killed in a deadly truck attack, at a memorial to the victims on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Allyson Tomkins, right, prays with Emily Lara, 5, center, and her grandmother Charity Lara, right, at a memorial to the victims of a deadly truck attack on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

A memorial for the victims of a deadly truck attack on New Year's Day stands on the sidewalk in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)