By Brahm Resnik | 12 News
Arizona Senate Republicans’ plans to recount Maricopa County’s 2020 presidential vote face a new legal challenge.
In a letter emailed Tuesday to the Senate’s hired auditors, attorneys for the non-profit voting-rights group Protect Democracy warn that the auditors’ plan to knock on doors to search for voters likely violates state and federal law.
The lawyers say lawsuits could follow if the audit proceeds as planned.
“These tactics – no matter their intent – constitute illegal voter intimidation and might expose your companies to both civil and criminal penalties,” according to the letter, sent on Protect Democracy’s behalf by three Phoenix law firms.
“Should you proceed with your current proposed Statement of Work or engage in any other conduct that intimidates Arizona voters, your companies may be named as defendants in federal civil rights lawsuits, thereby exposing you to money damages, the payment of attorneys’ fees, and court injunctions. The same conduct also may expose your companies, officers, and employees to criminal penalties.”
Protect Democracy demands that the auditors cease all potentially illegal activity and retain all records related to the audit.
The Senate hired the lead auditor, Florida-based Cyber Ninjas, with $150,000 in taxpayer money.
