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Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said Sunday that she has “no intention” of dropping the criminal case against a group of President-elect Donald Trump’s allies who sought to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Arizona. “I have no intention of breaking that case up. I have no intention of dropping that case,” Mayes, a Democrat, told MSNBC’s Ali Velshi. Those charged include big names like former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani and former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. The case is set to go to trial in 2026, but the defendants have sought to have the case dismissed.

Persons: Kris Mayes, Donald Trump’s, “, ” Mayes, MSNBC’s Ali Velshi, ”, Trump, Joe Biden, Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, Giuliani, Kelli Ward, Michael Ward, Sen, Anthony Kern, Robert Montgomery, Samuel Moorhead, Nancy Cottle, Loraine Pellegrino, Greg Safsten, Christina Bobb, Tyler Bowyer, Arizona committeeman Organizations: Electoral College, Trump, Trump White House, Cochise County GOP, Republican Party, Arizona GOP, Republican National, Arizona Locations: Arizona, Cochise County

☆ House GOP committee that oversees elections hired two former Trump officials involved in 2020 fake elector scheme
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-24 | by ( Annie Grayer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

They previously hired Thomas Lane, another Trump official who served as a backup fake elector in Arizona in 2020, to lead their investigation into elections. Findlay has worked closely with Mitchell, who helped Trump try to overturn the 2020 election. Republicans on the committee previously hired another Trump official who served as a backup fake elector in Arizona in 2020, to lead their investigation into elections. Emails obtained by CNN show that Lane was involved in the planning of who would serve as fake electors in Arizona, collecting contact information and discussing where the fake electors would meet. Lane was slated to be a substitute elector if there were absences on the day the fake electors in Arizona met, documents obtained by CNN show.

Persons: Donald Trump, Bryan Steil of, Joshua Findlay, Thomas Lane, Trump, Mark Meadows, Cleta Mitchell, Georgia’s, Bryan Steil, ”, Findlay, ” Findlay, Mitchell, “, Lane, ” Lane, Kenneth Chesebro, Kelli Ward, Steil, ” Steil, ActBlue, Steil’s, “ It’s, ” CNN’s Marshall Cohen, Zachary Cohen, Paula Reid Organizations: CNN — House Republicans, GOP, Trump, Capitol, Administration, Republicans, CNN, Republican National Committee, Conservative Partnership Institute, Network, “, Republican National Committee’s, Coalition, Department of Justice, Democratic, Democrat Party Locations: Bryan Steil of Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia, ActBlue, Juneau , Wisconsin

☆ As threats grow, funds for election security see a squeeze
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-21 | by ( Bob Ortega | Anna-Maja Rappard | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

That’s why Maricopa County has spent over $864,000 in federal funds and more than $3 million in county funds to bolster its election security and processes over the past four years. Officials readily shared their worries with CNN, citing death threats, harassment, baseless lawsuits, onerous public-records requests and various security threats spurred by false claims about voter fraud. Amid these challenges, budgets for election security have been squeezed in several ways. Thousands of election workers across the country have reported receiving harassing, offensive or hostile communications, including since the 2022 midterms, according to the Department of Justice’s Election Threats Task Force. As recently as Tuesday, Trump threatened to prosecute and imprison election officials if he wins in November, as he cast doubt on the integrity of the upcoming election.

Persons: ”, Bill Gates, MAGA, Donald Trump’s, —, Ben Hovland, ” Hovland, ” Ben Hovland, Patrick Semansky, Hovland, Joe Biden, Biden, Sen, James Lankford, “, Louisiana hasn’t, they’ll, Colorado —, CNN they’ve, “ We’re, they’ve, John Michael Catalano, Elijah Nouvelage, Isaac Cramer, Katharine Clark, we’re, Cramer, Mark Zuckerberg, Priscilla Chan, Zuckerberg, Trump, Chan, George Christenson, Republicans don’t, Jim Jordan of, Alex Jones swooped, Kelli Ward, Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, Jenna Ellis, Kari Lake, She’s, Stephen Richer, Michael Chow, who’ve, Judge Scott Blaney, denialism, Kamala Harris, Arizona’s, Jeff Woolf, ” Woolf Organizations: Phoenix CNN, county’s, Supervisors, CNN, “, U.S, Election, Commission, National Association of, State, Help, Congress, FBI, US Postal Service, Tech, Civil, Center, Election Innovation, Research, Department, Force, South Carolina, South, Charleston County, Facebook, Democratic, Biden, Trump, FEC, GOP, Republicans, Democrats, Arizona Senate Republican, USA, Network, Arizona Superior Court, Republican Locations: Maricopa, Maricopa County, Washington, California , Georgia, Nevada , Oregon , Texas, Arizona , Georgia, North Carolina, Takoma Park , Maryland, Oklahoma, “ Louisiana, Nevada, Michigan, Louisiana, Delaware, Virginia, Colorado, Arizona, Georgia, Oregon, South, South Carolina, Fulton County, Atlanta, Charleston, Santa Fe , New Mexico, Pennsylvania, In Wisconsin, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, Jim Jordan of Ohio, China, Republic

Jenna Ellis, right, and Sydney Powell, attorneys for President Donald Trump, conduct a news conference at the Republican National Committee on lawsuits regarding the outcome of the 2020 presidential election on Thursday, November 19, 2020. Former Trump campaign attorney Jenna Ellis has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in Arizona in their criminal cases against so-called fake electors and others who tried to reverse the 2020 election loss of former President Donald Trump, state Attorney General Kris Mayes said Monday. "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," the attorney general said. The remaining defendants are Kelli Ward, Tyler Bowyer, Nancy Cottle, Jacob Hoffman, Anthony Kern, James Lamon, Robert Montgomery, Samuel Moorhead, Lorraine Pellegrino, Gregory Safsten, and Michael Ward.

Persons: Jenna Ellis, Sydney Powell, Donald Trump, Kris Mayes, Ellis, Mayes, Rudy Giuliani, Joe Biden, Mark Meadows, John Eastman, Boris Epshteyn, Christina Bobb, Mike Roman, Trump, Kelli Ward, Tyler Bowyer, Nancy Cottle, Jacob Hoffman, Anthony Kern, James Lamon, Robert Montgomery, Samuel Moorhead, Lorraine Pellegrino, Gregory Safsten, Michael Ward Organizations: Republican National Committee, Trump, Prosecutors, New, New York City, Trump White House Locations: Arizona, American, New York

☆ Giuliani and Other Trump Allies to Be Arraigned in Arizona Election Case
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Danny Hakim | Jack Healy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Rudolph W. Giuliani and 10 other allies of Donald J. Trump are scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday in an Arizona criminal case that charges them with trying to keep Mr. Trump in power after he lost the 2020 presidential election. A total of 50 people — including Mr. Trump, who has locked up the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential race — now face charges related to election interference in four states. A number of Trump allies have already pleaded guilty or reached cooperation agreements in cases in Georgia and Michigan. The other defendants include Christina Bobb, a Trump campaign adviser in 2020 who is now the election integrity counsel for the Republican National Committee, and Kelli Ward, a former head of the Arizona Republican Party. All of the defendants in the Arizona case are charged with conspiracy, fraud and forgery.

Persons: Rudolph W, Giuliani, Donald J, Trump, —, Christina Bobb, Kelli Ward, Boris Epshteyn, Trump’s, Mark Meadows Organizations: Republican, Trump, Republican National Committee, Arizona Republican Party, White House Locations: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Phoenix

☆ Rudy Giuliani and 10 others plead not guilty to charges of conspiring to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Arizona
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Holmes Lybrand | Kyung Lah | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Phoenix CNN —Rudy Giuliani and 10 others pleaded not guilty in an Arizona court Tuesday to charges of allegedly conspiring to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Giuliani was served Friday in Palm Beach, Florida, at his 80th birthday bash held by a GOP operative. Arizona prosecutors spent weeks trying to track down Giuliani and eventually found him based on some of his podcasts. That evening, Giuliani posted a tweet saying that “if Arizona authorities can’t find me by tomorrow morning” they would have to dismiss the indictment. “I haven’t been hiding from anyone,” Giuliani told the judge during Tuesday’s hearing.

Persons: Phoenix CNN — Rudy Giuliani, Giuliani, Donald Trump, Christina Bobb, Trump, ”, Mike Roman, Kelli Ward, John Eastman, Mark Meadows, Boris Epshteyn, Jenna Ellis, ” Giuliani, Nicholas Klingerman, Giuliani “, Klingerman, can’t, “, …, I’ve, Donald Trump ’, didn’t Organizations: Phoenix CNN, New, GOP, Republican National, Arizona Republican, White House, Trump Locations: Arizona, New York, Palm Beach , Florida, Florida, France, Netherlands

"I question whether the state party has the necessary expertise to spend the money well," he said. Kristina Karamo, chair of the Michigan state party, didn't respond to a request for comment for this story. The Arizona party, meanwhile, raised roughly $139,000 in the first three months of this year, according to state and federal filings. But the state party's organizational heft will be hard to replicate, said Jeff Timmer, a former executive director of the Michigan Republican Party. "But not having the state party well funded is detrimental to many Republican campaigns next year," he added.

Persons: Ron Weiser, Weiser, Donald Trump, Trump, Seth Masket, Kelli Ward, Joe Biden, It's, Jim Click, Kristina Karamo, Ward, Jeff DeWit, haven't, Karamo, Matt Johnson, Jason Roe, DeWit, Zlaticanin, Jeff Timmer, Timmer, Jonathan Lines, Tim Reid, Nathan Layne, Ross Colvin, Pravin Organizations: Michigan Republican Party, Republicans, White, U.S . Congress, Republican Party, Michigan, University of Denver, Arizona, Justice Department, Trump, Democratic, Reuters, Republican National Committee, Republican, Biden, Thomson Locations: Michigan, Arizona, North Carolina, Detroit, New Arizona

CNN —The House select committee investigating the Capitol riot is dropping several of its pursuits for January 6-related phone records, according to court filings this week, as the panel winds down before it expires at the end of this year. While these witnesses and some others successfully blocked the committee from obtaining their phone records, the panel was able to access unprecedented amounts of information in their investigation, including through other phone records subpoenas, other document requests and witness interviews. But they never got all of the phone records they sought from former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, who over the past year became one of the committee’s top pursuits. After turning over some 2,000 text messages to the committee, Meadows lost a court case challenging committee subpoenas for his phone records and for his testimony. Another subpoena target, Stop the Steal organizer Ali Alexander, said in a statement the committee had informed his lawyer it is withdrawing a subpoena for his phone records.

☆ Maricopa County report rebuffs claims by Republicans who sowed doubt on election integrity
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Summer-Concepcion-Byline-Jm.Jpg | Summer Concepcion | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Officials in Arizona's largest county are blaming prominent Republicans for sowing doubt about a secure alternative for voters who encountered malfunctioning vote tabulation machines on Election Day. Maricopa County issued a report on the voting glitches Sunday, a day before it is set certify the results of the November election and a week after the state's Republican attorney general's office demanded answers on widespread voting machine glitches on Election Day. Some GOP politicians and pundits swiftly seized on those issues to push misleading or false information. Lake, who lost to Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, attacked Maricopa County officials over both the technical issues on Election Day and the prolonged vote count. Last week, Maricopa County confirmed that Bill Gates, the chairman of the county’s board of supervisors, had been moved to an undisclosed location for his safety following threats on social media related to the midterm elections.

☆ Maricopa County elections official moved to 'undisclosed location' for his safety following social media threat
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Summer-Concepcion-Byline-Jm.Jpg | Summer Concepcion | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

A top elections official in Maricopa County, Arizona, has been moved to an undisclosed location for his safety following threats on social media related the midterm elections, the county confirmed to NBC News on Monday. The official, Bill Gates, the chairman of the Maricopa County board of supervisors, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday. Election workers like Gates have experienced a rise in threats following the 2020 election and former President Donald Trump’s election lies. No one has been disenfranchised,” Gates told reporters in downtown Phoenix on Election Day, following reports of equipment problems. “We have hiccups,” Gates told NBC News at the time.

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday declined to block the release of Arizona Republican Party Chair Kelli Ward’s phone records to the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. The justices rejected an emergency request filed by Ward, meaning that phone records associated with her T-Mobile cellphone will be disclosed to the House committee. The committee is pursuing only Kelli Ward’s records. At the Supreme Court, Ward argued that the subpoena violates her right to freedom of association under the Constitution’s First Amendment. Those actions have come under scrutiny by the Justice Department as well as the Jan. 6 committee.

☆ Supreme Court Allows Jan. 6 Committee to Obtain Arizona GOP Official’s Phone Records
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Jess Bravin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON—The Supreme Court cleared the way Monday for House Jan. 6 investigators to obtain phone records from Arizona Republican Party Chairwoman Kelli Ward , rejecting her argument that her First Amendment political rights shield her from congressional investigatory powers. In a brief unsigned order, the court denied Ms. Ward’s request to stay lower-court decisions upholding the subpoena from the select committee investigating the attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito said they would have granted Ms. Ward’s request.

☆ Supreme Court allows Jan. 6 committee subpoena for phone records of Arizona GOP chief Kelli Ward
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Arizona Chairwoman Kelli Ward speaks during the Rally To Protect Our Elections conference on July 24, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a request by Arizona Republican Party Chairwoman Kelli Ward to block her phone records from being subpoenaed by the select House committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. The denial sets the stage for the Democratic-controlled House committee to obtain those records from her T-Mobile account. The order rejecting Ward's and her husband Michaels' request for an emergency injunction notes that Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito would have granted it. Laurin Mills, a lawyer for Kelli Ward, when asked by CNBC for comment on Monday's ruling, wrote, "It is my personal practice not to comment on pending litigation."

The committee on Oct. 22 sent Trump himself a subpoena to testify under oath and provide documents. Trump, who is considering another run for the presidency in 2024, has accused the panel of waging unfair political attacks on him. Circuit Court of Appeals on Oct. 22 declined to put the subpoena on hold while Ward appealed. Ward and her husband, Michael Ward, both signed their names on one of the slates of alternate electors for Trump. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan had temporarily put the subpoena on hold on Oct. 28 while the full court decided how to proceed.

Share this -Link copiedWisconsin Senate race too close to call Wisconsin's Senate race between GOP Sen. Ron Johnson and Democrat Mandela Barnes is too close to call, NBC News says. Vance wins Ohio Senate race, defeating Democrat Tim Ryan, NBC News projects COLUMBUS, Ohio — J.D. Ohio Republican Senate candidate J.D. Vance is leading The Senate race in Ohio is too early to call, NBC News says, but Republican candidate J.D. Share this -Link copiedGeorgia Senate race too close to call Georgia's Senate race is too close to call about three hours after polls closed at 7 p.m.

☆ Midterm elections live updates: Pennsylvania races, New Hampshire Senate race too early to call
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Brandy Zadrozny | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Sahil-Kapur-Headshot.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +109 min

Share this -Link copiedWisconsin Senate and governor's races too early to call It is too early to call the Senate and gubernatorial races in Wisconsin, according to NBC News. Share this -Link copiedNew Hampshire Senate race too early to call The Senate race in New Hampshire is too early to call, according to NBC News. Share this -Link copiedPennsylvania Senate and governor races are too early to call After polls closed at 8 p.m. While Maricopa County election officials initially categorized the problem as a “hiccup,” it took hours before a solution was identified early Tuesday afternoon. In Columbus County, election officials allegedly were harassed by an “observer following one-stop workers” and photographing or filming the workers, it said.

While Maricopa County election officials initially categorized the problem as a “hiccup,” it took hours before a solution was identified early Tuesday afternoon. According to the poll, 46% of voters said their family’s financial situation is worse than it was two years ago. Civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP, filed a similar complaint Friday against state election officials. The app and portal had been down for part of the morning and the state's election hotline also briefly experienced issues. In Columbus County, election officials allegedly were harassed by an “observer following one-stop workers” and photographing or filming the workers, it said.

While Maricopa County election officials initially categorized the problem as a "hiccup," it took hours before a solution was identified early Tuesday afternoon. An adjucation board reviews ballots at the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center on Tuesday in Phoenix. John Moore / Getty ImagesIn 2020, Joe Biden won Maricopa County by about 6,000 of the more than 2 million votes cast there. When Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema won her seat in 2018, she did so with 50% of the statewide vote, including the 51% she took in Maricopa County. Maricopa County election officials responded that the tweet was inaccurate and "all voters are being served."

By the end of Election Day, approximately 21,000 total interviews will be conducted. Civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP, filed a similar complaint Friday against state election officials. The app and portal had been down for part of the morning and the state's election hotline also briefly experienced issues. In Columbus County, election officials allegedly were harassed by an “observer following one-stop workers” and photographing or filming the workers, it said. Share this -Link copiedSunny weather in most battleground states on Election Day It’s a bright and sunny Election Day in many battleground states!

How the midterm election outcome could impact Biden's agenda Nov. 8, 2022 02:02 Read the full story here. Civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP, filed a similar complaint Friday against state election officials. The app and portal had been down for part of the morning and the state's election hotline also briefly experienced issues. In Columbus County, election officials allegedly were harassed by an “observer following one-stop workers” and photographing or filming the workers, it said. Share this -Link copiedSunny weather in most battleground states on Election Day It’s a bright and sunny Election Day in many battleground states!

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a request from Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., to quash a grand jury subpoena in a Georgia prosecutor’s probe into alleged interference in the 2020 presidential election. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Graham’s attempt to avoid answering questions about phone calls he made to Georgia election officials after the 2020 election. The unsigned Supreme Court order said that the lower court already ruled that Graham cannot be questioned on his legislative activities. The order also said Graham is free to litigate further over which issues are off-limitsWillis is investigating a pair of post-election phone calls Graham made to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and his staff. On Oct. 24, conservative Justice Clarence Thomas, who handles emergency applications that arise from Georgie, temporarily blocked the grand jury subpoena from being enforced while the court determined its next steps.

☆ Arizona GOP Chair Kelli Ward asks Supreme Court to block release of phone records to Jan. 6 committee
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Lawrencehurley_Pic.Jpg | Lawrence Hurley | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON — Arizona Republican Party Chair Kelli Ward asked the Supreme Court on Wednesday to prevent her phone records from being disclosed to the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot. Circuit Court of Appeals, rejected Ward's arguments that the subpoena issued by the committee should be blocked. The committee is currently only pursuing Kelli Ward's records. At the Supreme Court, Ward argued the subpoena violates her right to freedom of association under the Constitution's First Amendment. Those actions have come under scrutiny by the Justice Department as well as the Jan. 6 committee.

Kagan issued an order effectively putting the litigation on hold and preventing enforcement of the subpoena pending a further order by her or the full court. Kagan is the justice designated to handle emergency appeals from a group of states including Arizona. The panel sought the records as part of its investigation into events surrounding the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol by Trump supporters who sought to block Congress from certifying his election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump, who is considering another run for the presidency in 2024, has accused the panel of waging unfair political attacks on him. The panel had already been in the process of seeking records concerning Ward, who the panel said participated in multiple aspects of the attempts to interfere with the electoral count.

☆ The Arizona GOP raised funds in 2021 by asking for donations to support the election audit — but that's not where the money went: report
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Arizona GOP asked for donations to help with the 2021 Maricopa County election analysis. Texts show the GOP was clear that the money would not go toward the audit, per the Washington Post. "We were expressly told that we could/should not raise money for the audit," Arizona state GOP chairman wrote. In response to questions about the fundraising emails, Arizona GOP spokeswoman Kristy Dohnel told the Post the money went to "covering costs for security" during the audit. Following the Post story about the Arizona GOP audit emails published Monday, journalist Josh Dawsey reported that Trump had a "tense" phone call with Ward.

☆ Judge says Jan. 6 committee can get Arizona GOP Chair Kelli Ward's phone records
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Rebecca-Shabad-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Rebecca Shabad | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON — A federal judge in Arizona ruled Thursday that the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol can see the phone records of Arizona Republican Party Chairwoman Kelli Ward and her husband. U.S. District Court Judge Diane J. Humetewa rejected the Wards' arguments in a February lawsuit that the congressional panel should be prevented from getting the phone records of the couple, who are doctors, because it would violate medical privacy laws. "That three-month period is plainly relevant to its investigation into the causes of the January 6th attack," she wrote. "The court therefore has little doubt concluding these records may aid the select committee’s valid legislative purpose." Humetewa also dismissed the Wards' arguments that the subpoena seeking their phone records violate their First and 14th Amendment rights and that releasing the records would risk that those the couple had contacted during the period could be "implicated in the largest criminal investigation in U.S.

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