Fake elector Jake Hoffman enters not guilty plea in Maricopa County court

State Sen. Jake Hoffman, who said he was "innocent of any crime" in connection with the fake electors case, pleaded not guilty to his felony charges in a Maricopa County court on Thursday morning.

Hoffman, a Republican from Queen Creek, and 17 others were indicted by a grand jury in April in connection with a plan for Arizona's Republican electors to falsely proclaim Donald Trump won the state in 2020. In reality, Arizona voters narrowly chose Joe Biden.

Hoffman appeared via video during his eight-minute hearing in a basement courtroom.

"Jake Hoffman has never been convicted of any crime," said Hoffman's lawyer, Timothy La Sota, when talking about the conditions of his client's release, though the state had not asked for any at that point. He said the allegations against Hoffman were nonviolent.

"He does regularly receive death threats and feels that he shouldn’t have his second amendment rights impacted," La Sota said. He said as a state senator in the public eye, Hoffman is in a position where people make threats against him.

Nick Klingerman, the criminal division chief in the Arizona Attorney General's Office, on Thursday agreed Hoffman could remain out of custody but said he needs to complete the booking process.

The judicial officer granted Hoffman permission to leave the state for duties related to his role as national committeeman to the Republican National Committee. Just days after he was indicted, hundreds of GOP officials gathered for the Republican Party of Arizona’s state convention and elected Hoffman to the role.

Hoffman told The Arizona Republic he planned to attend Trump's town hall at a Phoenix church after the court hearing. He said, as he has before, that Attorney General Kris Mayes' investigation was a "political witch hunt" and a "naked attempt to weaponize government and tamper with this November's presidential election."

Hoffman said he was innocent of the counts against him.

"I will be vindicated through the judicial process, and the people of Arizona will deliver a resounding victory for President Trump this November," he said.

The indictment alleges 11 Arizona Republicans and seven top Trump aides engaged in a conspiracy aimed at "preventing the lawful transfer of the presidency of the United States, keeping President Donald J. Trump in office against the will of Arizona voters, and depriving Arizona voters of their right to vote and have their votes counted."

In the case brought by Mayes, a Democrat, all defendants face nine felony counts, including conspiracy, forgery, and fraud. If convicted, they could face prison time. However, state law allows for less severe penalties, including probation, depending on a defendant's circumstances, like past criminal history.

In addition to accusing Hoffman of falsely certifying he was a legitimate elector for Trump, the indictment states Hoffman sent a letter to former Vice President Mike Pence encouraging him to "delay the certification of the election results and instead seek clarification from the Arizona Legislature as to which slate of Presidential Electors are proper and accurate."

After the indictment was announced, Hoffman said Mayes had "weaponized the once respected" Attorney General's Office.

"Let me be unequivocal, I am innocent of any crime," Hoffman said in the statement. "I will vigorously defend myself, and I look forward to the day when I am vindicated of this naked political persecution by the judicial process."

Most defendants in the fake electors case already entered pleas of not guilty. Two Trump aides, including Trump's former chief of staff Mark Meadows, are set to be arraigned Friday morning. The remaining three defendants were scheduled to be arraigned on June 18.

The arraignment marks one of the earliest steps in the criminal justice process, where a defendant enters a plea to their charges. The judicial officer hearing all defendants' pleas will not be the trial judge hearing the fake electors case. That assignment will occur later.

Elena Santa Cruz is a justice reporter for The Republic. Reach her at elena.santacruz@gannett.com. Follow her on X @ecsantacruz3.

Reach reporter Stacey Barchenger at stacey.barchenger@arizonarepublic.com or 480-416-5669.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Fake elector Jake Hoffman pleads not guilty in Maricopa County court