Arizona woman accused of fraud related to abortion petition signatures

PHOENIX – An Arizona woman was indicted for fraud related to abortion petition signatures, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced on Thursday.

Michele Brimmer, 52, worked as a petitioner to gather signatures to place Proposition 139 on the 2024 election ballot, which protected the right to an abortion in Arizona.

From April to June of 2024, Brimmer allegedly submitted fraudulent signatures of individuals who did not sign the petition. These individuals also did not recognize signatures that were claimed to belong to them, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced.

In total, nine fraudulent entries were submitted by Brimmer, according to the prosecutor’s office.

While the initiative gained enough signatures to land on the ballot before ultimately passing with 61% of the vote, Mitchell said the fraudulent signatures would not have made a difference as to whether or not the measure was placed on the ballot.

“I want to make it clear that the number of signatures we are talking about would not have made a difference as to whether this proposition got on the ballot,” Mitchell said in a statement.

“That said, we are talking about a case that involved fraudulent signatures placed on an election petition. That is a crime, and it undermines public trust in elections. It will not be tolerated and those who engage in such conduct will be held accountable.”

Brimmer faces one count of fraudulent schemes and practices, four counts of forgery and nine counts of false signature on a petition. Her court date has not been announced.

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