Johannes Oostmana former lawyer for the former president Donald Trumppleaded not guilty Friday to charges related to a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election results in Arizona.
Eastman is one of more than a dozen Trump allies charged in the state last month, including former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani and former Trump aide Boris Epshteyn.
Outside the courthouse after his arraignment, Eastman said, “Obviously, I have pleaded not guilty. I have had no contact with Arizona voters, no involvement in Arizona election disputes or legislative hearings. that if the laws are faithfully applied, at the end of this trial I will be fully exonerated.”
Eastman is the first of the group to plead not guilty. He is also Trump’s co-defendant in a separate case in Georgia, where prosecutors allege Trump worked with lawyers and aides to overturn the 2020 presidential election there.
Eastman also pleaded not guilty in the Georgia case.
In the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, Eastman allegedly attempted to overturn the election results in Arizona by convening an alternate slate of electors for the Electoral College. He was also involved in crafting a plan to ensure that Congress would not certify the results of the 2020 presidential election on January 6, 2021.
Eastman is facing professional consequences for his conduct, including possible suspension. In March, a judge in California recommended that he be disbarred from the state.
Ten of the additional defendants in the Arizona case are expected to be arraigned next week.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
