In a courtroom appearance on Friday, former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and campaign aide Mike Roman pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from their alleged roles in an attempt to subvert Joe Biden's victory in Arizona during the 2020 presidential election. Along with 16 others, Meadows and Roman are facing nine criminal counts, including conspiracy, forgery, and fraud.

The video appearances took place before a Maricopa County court commissioner in downtown Phoenix, where the defendants' faces were displayed on video monitors. Other unrelated cases were being heard behind a window, where defendants wore jail-issued orange scrubs.

The majority of the 18 defendants in the election case have already entered not guilty pleas, including former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, former state party GOP chair Kelli Ward, and pro-Trump electors. State Senator Jake Hoffman and State Senator Anthony Kern, who appeared in the courtroom via video, also pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Former President Donald Trump, though not charged in Arizona, was described as an unindicted co-conspirator in the indictment. Following his defeat in the 2020 election, Trump's allies allegedly collaborated with attorneys, campaign aides, and Republican activists in seven states to implement a strategy aimed at awarding the states' electoral votes to Trump instead of Biden.

Though the defendants and their attorneys maintain their innocence, state prosecutors argue that they engaged in illegal activities to obstruct the certification of Biden's victory in Congress on January 6, 2021. Some have criticized the indictment as politically motivated.

During the court appearance, Meadows, who dressed in a dark suit and royal blue tie, informed the commissioner that he had already completed his booking requirements. However, it remains unclear if the sheriff's office has received his mug shot.

Meadows, as Trump's former chief of staff, allegedly played a role in evaluating a plan to overturn the will of voters by appointing alternate slates of Trump electors. Text messages obtained by a House committee investigating the events of January 6, 2021, revealed that Rep. Andy Biggs communicated with Meadows regarding a version of this strategy.

It is worth noting that Meadows was previously charged in Georgia for conspiring to overturn Trump's loss in that state and solicitation of violation of oath by a public officer. While the latter charge was dismissed, evidence has been presented linking Meadows to discussions about the elector plan with a Trump campaign aide.

Similarly, Roman, who appeared in front of a blank wall wearing a suit and tie, is facing charges related to his alleged involvement in coordinating the alternate elector plan. He has also been charged in Wisconsin with conspiracy to commit forgery.

The case will continue with three other defendants scheduled to enter their pleas on June 18, including Boris Epshteyn, a top adviser for Trump's 2024 campaign. Roman's attorney, Kurt Altman, expressed surprise at the charges, describing them as excessive and unwarranted. Altman made it clear that Roman has no intention of giving up.

As the legal proceedings unfold, the question of whether these allegations will have broader implications for the former president and his inner circle remains to be seen.