by Madeline Armstrong
Just one day after Donald Trump’s former campaign attorney, Jenna Ellis, agreed to cooperate in the Arizona fake electors case, another defendant in the case, Loraine Pellegrino, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of filing a false instrument, according to Richie Taylor, public information officer for the Attorney General’s Office.
However, at this time no further information can be confirmed as the court records are sealed, according to Taylor. If the other nine felony charges including fraud, forgery have been dropped has yet to be seen.
Pellegrino is one of 17 other suspects who allegedly forged a document denying the 2020 presidential election, claiming that Trump had won Arizona, when in fact he had lost to President Joe Biden by 10,457 votes, and sent the statement to Congress and the National Archives.
Pellegrino (pictured above) was formerly president of the Ahwatukee Republican Women group and has been a long-time advocate for conservative Republicans.
Pellegrino is the first of those charged to plead guilty to any of the crimes. She previously pled not guilty to charges along with the other individuals charged who at this time include Kelli Ward, Tyler Bowyer, Nancy Cottle, Jacob Hoffman, Anthony Kern, James Lamon, Robert Montgomery, Samuel Moorhead, Gregory Safsten, Michael Ward, Rudolph Giuliani, John Eastman, Boris Epshteyn, Christina Bobb, Michael Roman, Mark Meadows and before Monday, Ellis.
Pellegrino’s guilty plea means that she is admitting to submitting the document and that it was indeed false.
Ellis has had all charges dropped against her per her cooperation agreement, and if Pellegrino will join her as not having any felony charges is yet to be seen.
“This agreement represents a significant step forward in our case,” said Mayes. “I am grateful to Ms. Ellis for her cooperation with our investigation and prosecution. Her insights are invaluable and will greatly aid the State in proving its case in court. As I stated when the initial charges were announced, I will not allow American democracy to be undermined – it is far too important. Today’s announcement is a win for the rule of law.”
According to the cooperation agreement, Ellis will waive her fifth amendment right against self-incrimination and is bound by law to provide truthful information with nothing omitted.
The case remains ongoing with no other defendants having pleaded guilty at this time.
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Madeline Armstrong is a contributor to The Center Square.
Photo “Loraine Pellegrino” by Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department. Background Photo “Court Room” by Karen Neoh CC BY-SA 2.0.
