Kari Lake Won’t Contest Liability in Maricopa County Election Official Defamation Case

Kari Lake visits a Donald Trump support center outside of Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 13, 2024. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake will not contest her liability in a defamation suit brought against her by a top election official in Maricopa County following the 2022 election as it will “only serve to legitimize this perversion of our legal system,” she has said.

Lawyers for Ms. Lake filed a motion (pdf) with the Maricopa County Superior Court on March 26 asking for an expedited hearing for a default judgment and a hearing to determine the amount of damages to be awarded to Stephen Richer, the election worker who filed the lawsuit.

The motion does not contest Ms. Richer’s claims. Ms. Lake is, however, seeking to dispute the damages.

Lawyers for Ms. Lake, a Republican, are asking that Mr. Richer disclose relevant medical records related to psychiatric, psychological, or other mental health treatment he allegedly received to show that his health suffered negatively due to comments Ms. Lake made about him following the 2022 gubernatorial race.

In a statement, Daniel Maynard, one of the lawyers defending Mr. Richer said that by “permitting a judgment to be entered against her and her co-defendants, Ms. Lake concedes that she intentionally lied about Mr. Richer’s action in the 2022 election that she lost for Governor in Arizona.”

“These types of unwarranted attacks on our public servants need to stop. Those who run for public office and lose need to learn to accept defeat with grace rather than falsely attacking those who administer our elections,” the lawyer said.

However, in a video message posted to the social media platform X, Ms. Lake claimed the lawsuit against her was part of a political witch hunt, drawing comparisons between her and former President Donald Trump, who is facing multiple legal challenges.

‘Washington Operates on Backmail and Bribes’

“Washington, D.C. operates on blackmail and bribes. Since they can’t blackmail or bribe me, they’ve resorted to filing a punishing lawsuit to try to stop me and bleed me dry,” she said. “They’re threatening to take everything I own. What they don’t realize is even if they leave me, my husband, and my children homeless and penniless, that won’t stop us.”

“By participating in this lawsuit, it would only serve to legitimize this perversion of our legal system and allow bad actors to interfere in our upcoming election,” Ms. Lake continued. “So, I won’t be taking part. Instead, I will focus on the issues that matter to the people of Arizona.”

The defamation lawsuit (pdf) was filed by Mr. Richer last year over allegations made by Ms. Lake following the 2022 midterm elections, including that there were numerous irregularities and errors that occurred, and that Mr. Richer and other Maricopa County officials interfered in the election to prevent her from winning in the race against Katie Hobbs.

It named Ms. Lake, the Lake for Governor Campaign, and the Lake Fundraising Organization as defendants.

Specifically, Mr. Richer pointed to Ms. Lake’s claims that he injected ballot boxes with 300,000 invalid votes and used his role as recorder to make the ballot unclear for voters.

The lawsuit also cited Ms. Lake’s allegation that Mr. Richer intentionally printed 19-inch ballot images on 20-inch paper, causing counting problems during Election Day.

Mr. Richer alleged Ms. Lake’s claims caused him substantial reputational, financial, physical, emotional, and professional harm.

Stephen Richer, the recorder (L) and Bill Gates (R), chairman of the Maricopa Board of Supervisors, speak at the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center in Phoenix, Ariz., on Nov. 8, 2022. John Moore/Getty Images

‘An Endless Barrage of Threats’

Mr. Richer is seeking unspecified monetary damages and a court order declaring Ms. Lake’s statements are false and requiring her to delete them from social media.

Ms. Hobbs, a Democrat, was sworn in as governor in January last year. Ms. Lake has not conceded in the election.

“After months of doubling down and defending their lies across Arizona, in the media, and on social media, when push came to shove, the Defendants decided to completely back down and concede that their lies were just that: lies,” Mr. Richer said in a statement after Ms. Lake’s legal team filed the motion.

“Because of their actions, my family and I have faced an endless barrage of threats—including calls for our execution—I have lost close personal relationships, and I have had my reputation irreparably damaged. I have said from the beginning that no one is above the rule of law and today further validates that belief. I look forward to entering the damages phase of this case,” Mr. Richer added.

In a separate post on X, Mr. Richer said, “I’ll get my due but not the millions of people she lied to. Not the thousands of people who donated ‘to continue the fight.’ Not the people who have gone to jail because they so strongly believed Kari’s lies. Those people won’t get their due.”

Ms. Lake is currently challenging Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) for the seat of Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), who announced earlier this month that she will not be seeking a second term.