After former AZ GOP chair, Robert Graham, left the Republican Party in financial shambles Jonathan Lines was handed control. In office less than three months, Republican grassroots are calling for a recall of Lines as AZGOP chair.
According to sources, Lines barely drew a quorum to his AZGOP leadership meeting in Yuma this weekend due to the fact that many voting members would not, could not or did not take the grueling trip to the remote Yuma location.
Graham left the Party all but broke. Using the Party’s funds to promote his RNC chairmanship candidacy, rather than promoting candidates such as president Donald Trump, Graham left the State organization with a mere current balance in the Treasury of about $15,000.
Lines had served as Treasurer during Graham’s tenure.
Lines’ replacement, Bob Lettieri has not been allowed to look at the books. He did not attend Lines’ Saturday meeting. Despite this, Lines presented a budget that assumed future income in the amount of $1,000,000 and expenses at $750,000. The budget included $250,000, plus $25,000 for ‘costs’ for salaries for 4 paid employees, which averages to $62,500 per employee.
The day after, Republicans in Arizona received a message from a group identifying itself as the Trump Coalition. The group claims that the “grassroots will have enough votes to recall,” Lines.
Although he used considerable hard-to-come-by resources, Graham failed to be a serious contender for the RNC chairmanship. Graham’s failure to support the Party’s presidential candidate, and his aggressive campaign for himself, left Party leaders unimpressed. His continual jabs at RNC chair Reince Prebius, left Arizona in a precarious fundraising position.
The letter reads in part:
It is a known fact that the establishment felt insulted at the loss of two key leadership roles in the recent party election for the AZGOP. Our grassroots came very close to winning the chairmanship and McCain perceives this as a big threat. Now that the election is over John McCain is showing his true colors by attacking Trump relentlessly in the media. McCain also knows that he needs to have absolute control over the party to get his friend Jeff Flake re-elected in the primary.
Sources close to McCain and Flake have shared that they have ordered Jonathan Lines to immediately hire the grassroots hater and never Trumper, Matt Kenney as the Executive Director of the AZGOP. They made it very clear to Jonathan that Matt will act as the shadow Chairman as Jonathan will not be available in Phoenix. If you remember media coverage in the past, Matt is and continues to be entrusted with purging all conservative grassroots PC’s and recruiting RINO or proxy candidates in their places. This is a serious concern as Matt will have access to all the resources of the state party to include everyone’s email and contact information. This is ironic as the money contributed by thousands of grassroots will be used to hire a person to work against them. The proof is in the pudding when you look at what’s been happening inside AZGOP as of late, Kenney has already begun hiring staff.
Matt got clear instructions to promote Flake in the primary and destroy Kelli Ward using party resources. This is what you get for voting Jonathan Lines, who is a known McCain puppet. The party will also work towards supporting McCain over Trump. So far it has been only McCain attacking Trump but shortly the state party might attack Trump. Why would the AZGOP take such a direction you may ask? Look no further than the outstanding debt left behind….. Approximately a little over $200,000 dollars or so of DEBT. Who else packs enough power in their coffers to help a drowning AZGOP out of debt? if you Guessed McCain you are right again!
Thursday’s phone call once again proved that Jonathan is not transparent. He is trying his best to cover up the mistakes of his friend Robert Graham. There are two simple questions that every grassroots person had – 1) Why was the debt not reported? Robert never disclosed this at the state meeting. Also, the attorney did not confirm if anyone has been sending invoices to the party. 2) What is the total amount? Both questions went unanswered. We here at Trump Coalition feel It is BS that said issues need remain confidential. It is a public information once it is paid so why the reluctance? The real answer? AZGOP is in debt $220,000 and Jonathan Lines is trying hard to protect the establishment.
Grassroot activists, Kelli Ward and Trump supporters should be watchful of Jonathan’s machinations. The only way to protect our party is to call for a special meeting and recall Jonathan Lines. The bylaws have a provision for this:
“Special meetings may be held at any time.
1. A written call issued by the state chairman, or signed by 20% or more of the members of the state committee representing at least nine counties, or signed by 40% of the voting members of the executive committee; and
2. Written notice of the call containing the information herein required being mailed to every member of the state committee by the secretary at least ten days before the meeting. ”
There will be quite a few people who previously believed in Jonathan and now realize that they are cheated with this purging. Grassroots will have enough votes to recall. It will only cost $5,000 for mailing the call letter and the venue.
Let us unite to save GOP.