CNN
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Arizona’s top election official has asked the state attorney general to investigate whether Republican Kari Lake, who lost her 2022 nomination, violated state law by posting voter signatures on her Twitter account.
The request by Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat who was elected to the office last November, came after Lake posted a tweet on Jan. 23 that made unsubstantiated claims that 40,000 ballots with voter signatures were missing. does not match what the state recorded. Lake posted a graphic showing 16 voter signatures that don’t match what Arizona has on file.
In a letter to Arizona Attorney General Chris Mayes, Fontes requested “appropriate enforcement action against Kari Lake” for releasing these 16 voter signatures. Fontes cites state law that prohibits the reproduction of voter signatures except by the voter or a legally authorized person. Fontes’ letter states that violating this law is a crime.
The office of Mayes, a Democrat up for re-election in 2022, confirmed receipt of the letter but had no further comment.
A spokesman for Lake did not respond to CNN’s request for comment.
Lake lost the race for Gov. Kathy Hobbs last November by more than 17,000 votes. After losing, Lake continued to spread election lies in the right-wing media and sought legal action in the courts, unsuccessful efforts. Lake appealed an Arizona judge’s ruling in December 2022 that there was no clear or convincing evidence of wrongdoing in the 2022 election and upheld Hobbs’ victory.
Since losing in November, Lake has been making false allegations of election fraud on Twitter and in appearances in right-wing media outlets. He held a “Save Arizona Rally” in Scottsdale on Sunday, where he repeated lies about the election and promoted conspiracy theories about the election.
Former President Donald Trump called a rally to confirm his campaign lies, saying it was “shameful what happened in November” and that he believed “he’s going to win in the end.” Trump continues to deny the results of the 2020 presidential election, which he lost, and has launched a third presidential campaign.
Arizona’s Republican candidates for Senate, governor, attorney general and secretary of state all made Trump’s election lie a centerpiece of their campaigns, and all lost their races in November.
