Arizona Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake’s election challenge will go to trial starting on Wednesday after a judge rejected Arizona Sec. of State Katie Hobb’s motion to dismiss her case.
Lake lost her bid for governor by 17,116 votes after rampant voting machine glitches in Maricopa County disenfranchised large numbers of would-be Lake voters.
Monday evening, judge Peter Thompson dismissed all but two of the ten counts mentioned in Lake’s lawsuits. Counts two and ten deal with printer and chain-of-custody issues.
MOVING FORWARD: @KariLake v @katiehobbs will proceed on counts 2 and 4 (printer settings and chain of custody).
All other counts have been dismissed by Judge Thompson. pic.twitter.com/eEmV8wPvBj
— The AZ – abc15 – Data Guru (@Garrett_Archer) December 20, 2022
“Plaintiff must show at trial that the BOD [ballot-on-demand] printer malfunctions were intentional, and directed to affect the results of the election, and that such actions did actually affect the outcome,” Judge Thompson ruled in regard to count two.
Count four deals with alleged violations ballot chain of custody, per the County Election Manual.
“As presented, whether the county complied with its own manual and applicable statutes is a dispute of fact rather than one of law. This is true as to whether such lack of compliance was both intentional and did in fact result in a changed outcome. Consequently, Plaintiff has stated a claim,” Judge Thompson said in regard to count four.
The former news anchor trumpeted the development on Twitter: “Katie Hobbs attempt to have our case thrown out FAILED. She will have to take the stand & testify. Buckle up, America. This is far from over.”
BREAKING: Our Election Case is going to trial. Katie Hobbs attempt to have our case thrown out FAILED. She will have to take the stand & testify.
Buckle up, America.
This is far from over. pic.twitter.com/291EnXPP3U— Kari Lake (@KariLake) December 20, 2022
In a now deleted tweet, Lake taunted Chairman of Maricopa County’s Board of Supervisors, Bill Gates, and Maricopa County recorder Stephen Richer. Richer created a “pro Democracy” political action committee (PAC) in 2021 to stop GOP candidates (like Lake) who believe the 2020 election was stolen.
“We are looking forward to asking them a few questions about the Botched Election,” Lake wrote. “Reminder: Perjury and making false statements are FELONIES. Keep that in mind, guys!” she added.
Lake’s campaign team zinged the media after multiple headlines focused on the fact that the judge dismissed most of the counts in her lawsuit.
“The fake news is in PANIC mode,” tweeted Kari Lake War Room. “After a month of them calling us crazy, a brave judge just acknowledged our case has merit. The gaslighting is coming to an end. The sun will be shining tomorrow.”
The fake news is in PANIC mode.
After a month of them calling us crazy, a brave judge just acknowledged our case has merit.
The gaslighting is coming to an end.
The sun will be shining tomorrow.
— Kari Lake War Room (@KariLakeWarRoom) December 20, 2022