Maricopa County asks court to sanction Lake, Finchem over ‘demonstrably false’ election suit

PHOENIX — The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is asking a court to sanction Kari Lake, Mark Finchem and their lawyers for filing an election lawsuit they say is frivolous.

The motion, filed July 18 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, says an April 22 suit that asks a federal judge to bar the use of tabulation equipment in the 2022 elections is “demonstrably false.”

“Plaintiffs’ and their counsels’ use of the Court to further a disinformation campaign and false narrative concerning the integrity of the election process in Arizona by asserting demonstrably false allegations is repugnant,” the motion says.

“This improper use of the courts is unacceptable, detrimental to the entire election process, subjects election officials and workers to threatening and harassing conduct, and violates Rule 11.”

The county is asking for Lake, Finchem and their lawyers to pay back attorney fees, which are taxpayer-funded, associated with the lawsuit.

The Lake/Finchem suit alleges that Arizona voters do not vote by hand on paper ballots, among other claims the county says are false.

Lake and Finchem both won their GOP primary races and have not asked for a review of their victories.

“Maricopa County argues that Lake, Finchem and their lawyers filed the suit to sow doubt about the election for their own benefit and without any legal basis,” KTAR News legal expert Monica Lindstrom said Wednesday.

The Republicans are two of the most high-profile politicians in the state who have denied the validity of the 2020 election.

Election experts say candidates who dispute the results of a valid election in which there has been no evidence of widespread fraud or manipulation of voting systems pose a danger of interfering in future elections.

They warn it could trigger chaos if they refuse to accept results they don’t like.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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