In a significant development in the ongoing investigation into alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Arizona, Boris Epshteyn, a key adviser to former president Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to nine felony charges. Epshteyn is accused of playing a role in trying to deliver Arizona's 11 electoral votes to Trump instead of the rightful winner, Joe Biden.

Appearing in Maricopa County Superior Court via phone, Epshteyn, who maintains a close relationship with Trump, made his first open court appearance for his alleged involvement in assembling the elector strategy in multiple states won by Biden.

Alongside Epshteyn, two other co-defendants named Jim Lamon, a 2020 GOP elector from Arizona, and Jenna Ellis, an attorney who presented baseless claims of widespread malfeasance in states lost by Trump, also pleaded not guilty to the same charges. The counts include conspiracy, fraud, and forgery.

These not guilty pleas conclude the final round of pleas in Arizona's elector case, with a total of eighteen Republicans being indicted in late April. Prosecutors have referred to Trump as an unindicted co-conspirator in the case.

The Arizona case is part of a broader investigation that includes charges against individuals in five other states connected to the 2020 elector strategy. It is significant to note that these proceedings occur as Trump and Biden prepare for a likely November rematch, creating a convergence between the court and election calendars.

While Arizona prosecutor Nicholas Klingerman indicated the possibility of plea offers being made in the future, he emphasized that the investigation is still ongoing and did not provide details on potential additional charges.

The investigation, which commenced about a year and a half ago following the election, focuses on efforts to undermine or overturn Trump's 10,457-vote loss in Arizona. One area of particular interest for state investigators is the alleged pressure exerted on local officials by Trump's allies to delay or prevent his loss.

Records reveal Epshteyn's involvement in the elector strategy both inside and outside of Arizona, including email communication discussing the creation of pro-Trump elector ballots for states Trump lost, including Arizona.

Jenna Ellis, who accompanied Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani in presenting baseless claims of election fraud, had meetings with state lawmakers, including then-Arizona Speaker of the House Rusty Bowers, to press for overturning the election results.

It is crucial to highlight that Epshteyn, Giuliani, and Ellis, among others, attempted to declare Trump the winner in their respective states despite his loss, going against the typical practice of electors of each state's winning candidate casting votes in mid-December.

As the investigation continues and court proceedings unfold, the focus remains on uncovering the extent of the alleged elector strategy and the involvement of key figures in attempting to overturn the 2020 election results.