ARIZONA NEWS

Adrian Fontes calls election investigation ‘political stunt’ after talking to AG’s Office

Nov 1, 2021, 2:30 PM

Adrian Fontes, left, and Mark Brnovich (Facebook Photos)...

Adrian Fontes, left, and Mark Brnovich (Facebook Photos)

(Facebook Photos)

PHOENIX – Former Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes said he was interviewed by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office last week about the 2020 election and called the investigation “a political stunt.”

Fontes, a Democratic candidate for secretary of state, questioned the motives of Attorney General Mark Brnovich, a Republican running for U.S. Senate, after talking to a special agent from Brnovich’s office.

“What became clear to me after engaging with the office of Attorney General Brnovich is that this is merely a political stunt intended to benefit Brnovich’s 2022 Senate race by inflaming the delusions of conspiracy theorists,” Fontes said Monday in a statement about the interview, which he said was voluntary and took place Thursday.

“This is not a genuine effort to investigate the election process of 2020, which has already been picked apart and scrutinized relentlessly.”

When asked for a response, a spokeswoman for the AG’s Office told KTAR News 92.3 FM, “We cannot comment on any specifics of an ongoing investigation.”

Fontes was recorder in Arizona’s largest county during the November election in which he lost his seat to Republican Stephen Richer. The Recorder’s Office maintains voter files and partners with the Maricopa County Elections Department on elections operations.

“I proudly stand by the entire Maricopa County 2020 and the county’s current election teams. We are all Americans first, and we have continued to put country over party,” Fontes said.

In September, after Arizona Senate contractors led by Cyber Ninjas released findings from their audit of the 2020 Maricopa County election, Brnovich said his office’s Elections Integrity Unit would review the evidence and determine what, if any, actions to take.

The audit report noted what the contractors called anomalies, which county officials have attributed to Cyber Ninjas’ lack of expertise and haphazard procedures. A hand recount of the approximately 2.1 million ballots cast, one part of the review, affirmed President Joe Biden’s narrow victory with numbers close to the ones certified by state officials, including Brnovich and Republican Gov. Doug Ducey.

As part of its investigation, the Elections Integrity Unit has asked the state Senate for supporting documents from the contractors’ report and asked Maricopa County officials to put a “litigation hold” on a slew of items related to the last year’s election.

After the report was released Sept. 24, Senate President Karen Fann said she had concerns about “several items” and was forwarding the findings to Brnovich’s office.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

Chandler woman accused of abusing over 50 special needs dogs...

KTAR.com

Activists played key role in arrest of Chandler woman accused of abusing special needs dogs

The Chandler Police Department arrested an Arizona woman Friday on suspicions of animal cruelty, officials said.

2 hours ago

In this image taken from video, Niko, a pet squirrel, stands on the shoulder of Yeison in their ten...

Associated Press

Venezuelan man and his pet squirrel complete journey to U.S. border

A 23-year-old Venezuela man is preparing to say goodbye to a pet squirrel he says he brought from his home country on a journey to Mexico.

4 hours ago

Evening commuters head west toward downtown Phoenix. Local transportation leaders are proposing a $...

KTAR.com

Valley commuters can win prizes during Rideshare Month in October

Valley Metro is asking commuters to go the extra mile - by, for example, carpooling or taking transit - during Rideshare Month this October.

6 hours ago

Chandler police vehicle...

KTAR.com

55 dogs removed from home in Chandler, owner arrested

The Arizona Humane Society removed and took custody of 55 neglected dogs from a home in Chandler on Saturday, according to the Chandler Police Department.

8 hours ago

Stock photo of a road closed sign. Southbound Interstate 17 was closed in the north Valley on Thurs...

KTAR.com

Interstate 17 southbound lanes reopen after being closed near Camp Verde

The southbound lanes of Interstate 17 are closed south of Camp Verde, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

9 hours ago

Sundance Park in Buckeye....

KTAR.com

Expansion of Sundance Park in Buckeye completed, celebrated with 3 days of events

The completion of Sundance Park Phase II in Buckeye was showcased to the public with three days of events earlier this month.

12 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Home moving relocation in Arizona 2023...

BMS Moving

Tips for making your move in Arizona easier

If you're moving to a new home in Arizona, use this to-do list to alleviate some stress and ensure a smoother transition to your new home.

...

Ignite Digital

How to unlock the power of digital marketing for Phoenix businesses

All businesses around the Valley hopes to maximize their ROI with current customers and secure a greater market share in the digital sphere.

...

OCD & Anxiety Treatment Center

5 mental health myths you didn’t know were made up

Helping individuals understand mental health diagnoses like obsessive compulsive spectrum disorder or generalized anxiety disorder isn’t always an easy undertaking. After all, our society tends to spread misconceptions about mental health like wildfire. This is why being mindful about how we talk about mental health is so important. We can either perpetuate misinformation about already […]

Adrian Fontes calls election investigation ‘political stunt’ after talking to AG’s Office