ARIZONA NEWS

Republican Arizona county official pleads guilty in election interference case

Oct 21, 2024, 11:58 AM

Cochise County Supervisor Peggy Judd pleaded guilty in an election interference case....

Cochise County Supervisor Peggy Judd pleaded guilty in an election interference case. (Cochise County and Pexels Photos)

(Cochise County and Pexels Photos)

PHOENIX – One of the two southern Arizona Republican officials charged in an election interference case has reached a plea deal, authorities announced Monday.

Cochise County Supervisor Peggy Judd pleaded guilty to failure or refusal to perform duty by an election officer, a class 3 misdemeanor, according to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

Under the deal, she will be sentenced to at least 90 days of probation and fined up to $500.

“Today’s plea agreement and sentencing should serve as a strong reminder that I will not hesitate to use every tool available to uphold the rule of law and protect the integrity of Arizona’s elections,” Attorney General Kris Mayes said in a press release.

What are the details of the election interference case?

Judd and fellow Republican Supervisor Tom Crosby were indicted in November 2023 for failing to certify Cochise County’s 2022 midterm election results before a state-mandated deadline.

They each were charged with one count of conspiracy and interference with an election officer. Crosby’s case remains ongoing and is set to go to trial in January.

Supervisor Ann English, the only Democrat on the three-member board, wasn’t charged in the election interference case. She voted to certify the results on time.

Her Republican counterparts, meanwhile, held out past the deadline and only agreed to certify the results after they were ordered to do so by a Superior Court judge.

Judd and Crosby didn’t cite any problems with the election results. Rather, they said they weren’t satisfied that the machines used to tabulate ballots were properly certified for use in elections, although state and federal election officials confirmed that they were.

“Any attempt to interfere with elections in Arizona will not be tolerated. My office will continue to pursue justice and ensure that anyone who undermines our electoral system is held accountable,” Mayes said.

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Republican Arizona county official pleads guilty in election interference case