A hearing to dismiss charges against Republicans accused of attempting to alter the outcome of the 2020 presidential race in Arizona is set for a second day.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Bruce Cohen is considering requests from defendants indicted on charges of forgery, fraud, and conspiracy.

A grand jury indicted 18 Republicans, including individuals who submitted false documents claiming Donald Trump won Arizona, former Trump aides, and lawyers associated with the former president.

Defendants argue the charges were an attempt to silence constitutionally protected speech regarding the 2020 election and related actions.

John Eastman, one of the defendants, stated that Judge Cohen faces challenging decisions in this case as he tries to interpret the law and its implications.

Prosecutors argue that the defendants’ actions constitute fraud, not protected speech, and lack evidence to support claims of retaliation.

Former Trump campaign attorney Jenna Ellis and Republican activist Loraine Pellegrino have already resolved their cases, while other defendants have pleaded not guilty, with a trial scheduled for 2026.

The legal proceedings continue to unfold as the defendants maintain their innocence and fight to dismiss the charges against them.

Stay tuned for updates on this ongoing case as it unfolds in the Arizona court system.