Rudy Giuliani, a campaign attorney for Donald Trump, pleaded not guilty on Friday in a court filing suit against Georgia alleging that he attempted to steal Trump’s 2020 election.
Giuliani and 18 co-defendants were indicted on August 14 on a total of 41 charges. By entering a plea through legal process, he avoided appearing at a scheduled hearing for the charges on September 6. Giuliani is free on $150,000 bail pending trial.
Other co-defendants have already submitted written pleas pleading not guilty and waiving their right to a hearing. Trump, Sidney Powell, Trevian Kutti, Kenneth Chesebro, Jenna Ellis, Scott Hall and Ray Smith each filed written pleas.
Giuliani said that due to the size and complexity of the indictment, he requested at least 30 days after receiving a copy of all evidence in the case to file motions potentially challenging the evidence. Georgia law generally requires motions to be filed within 10 days of the arraignment.
In addition to the racketeering charge, Giuliani was charged with three counts of incitement to violate their oath of office, three counts of making false statements, and six counts of conspiracy involving forgery and false statements for the recruitment of false voters.
The indictment cites Giuliani, along with Trump attorneys Ellis and Powell, for falsely alleging election fraud in Georgia and other states during a Nov. 19, 2020 news conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters.
Giuliani made false claims of electoral fraud during a December 2020 series of meetings with lawmakers in Georgia, according to the indictment. Giuliani claimed that thugs and dead people cast their votes. He also alleged that election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss were illegally counting ballots at the State Farm Arena on election night.
A federal judge ruled on August 30 that Giuliani had discredited Freeman and Moss and sanctioned him to pay their legal fees. Their civil lawsuit for damages is still pending.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rudy Giuliani pleads not guilty in Georgia election case with Trump
