GOP candidate Abe Hamadeh condemned his former opponent, Attorney General Kris Mayes, as a “third world dictator” for punishing two Cochise County supervisors over their slight delay in certifying the 2022 election results.
On Monday, Mayes indicted Cochise County Supervisors Peggy Judd and Tom Crosby with felony charges of election officer interference and conspiracy.
“Third world elections lead to third world dictators,” said Hamadeh. “Mayes is a fraud, she didn’t receive the most votes — and she knows it.”
Third world elections lead to third world dictators. Mayes is a fraud, she didn’t receive the most votes – and she knows it. https://t.co/uAh9I7yIhO
— Abe Hamadeh (@AbrahamHamadeh) November 29, 2023
The conspiracy and election officer interference charges — both class five felonies — each carry a sentence ranging anywhere from six months to 2.5 years and up to a $150,000 fine.
Mayes accused Judd and Crosby of “undermin[ing] democracy” for hesitating to certify the 2022 election.
“The repeated attempts to undermine our democracy are unacceptable,” said Mayes. “I took an oath to uphold the rule of law, and my office will continue to enforce Arizona’s elections laws and support our election officials as they carry out the duties and responsibilities of their offices.”
The repeated attempts to undermine our democracy are unacceptable. I took an oath to uphold the rule of law, and my office will continue to enforce Arizona’s elections laws and support our election officials as they carry out the duties and responsibilities of their offices. https://t.co/boKPiNtiUi
— AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes (@AZAGMayes) November 29, 2023
Mayes is punishing the two supervisors even though in 2020, Pima County Supervisors Ally Miller and Steve Christy voted against a canvass of the results of the November 2020 General Election.
At that time, the two supervisors cited concerns that the certification of results would be part of a larger pool of certifications coming out of the state of Arizona and across the country of an election in which instances of fraud had been alleged.
Supervisors Miller, Christy Vote Against 2020 General Election
Sen. Wendy Rogers insisted that the indictment should be a “badge of honor” for Judd and Crosby. Rogers accused Mayes of “jackbooted thuggery.”
BASED. BRAVE. TENACIOUS.
Mark my word, those who stand strong in the face of jackbooted thuggery will never yield and will be the LAST ONES STANDING till the end.
Supervisors Peggy Judd and Tom Crosby should wear this as a badge of honor. https://t.co/FCplJ7Cxlz
— Wendy Rogers (@WendyRogersAZ) November 29, 2023
Crosby doesn’t intend to resign, per his attorney.
Judd and Crosby fought to conduct a hand count of the general election ballots cast in the county, citing concerns over the voting machines, and in so doing voted to delay certification past the deadline by three days. Then-Secretary of State, now governor, Katie Hobbs sued over the delay.
Despite receiving the green light on the hand count from then-Attorney General Mark Brnovich, the supervisors’ efforts were thwarted by the courts and resistance from former Elections Director Lisa Marra, who resigned in January.
Marra received a $130,000 settlement payout over claims of a toxic work environment.
Records Refute Media Claim Of Marra Death Threat That Detracts From Real Victims
Marra wasn’t out of a job for long — Secretary of State Adrian Fontes gave Marra the position of Deputy Director of Elections in March. Even with Marra on board with her 10 years of expertise, Fontes’ office has yet to come up with a process for cleaning the voter rolls of over 78,000 noncitizens or nonresidents.