Elections have consequences
Jack Smith and the DOJ are reportedly criminally investigating the “fake elector” schemes in several states, and will bring federal criminal charges as appropriate. But shouldn’t someone be investigating these things under state law as well? In Georgia, someone is, thanks to District Attorney Fani Willis. But in Arizona, that hasn’t been the case – until now.
It turns out Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has spent the past several months leading a criminal investigation into the fake electors scheme in the state. She took office in January, decided that justice needed to be delivered under state law, and her probe has been active ever since. Now that probe is kicking into high gear.
Mayes has sought evidence from Jack Smith and Fani Willis, in an effort to help her Arizona probe get up to speed. The Washington Post says Mayes’ probe is escalating. There’s no way to know yet if it’ll produce criminal charges. But it very well could result in the fake electors, and even Donald Trump, being indicted. That’s right, Trump could end up going on trial in Arizona, in addition to the other trials he’s going to face.
Here’s the kicker: when Kris Mayes was elected Arizona Attorney General in November 2022, it was by a mere 280 votes. That’s not a typo. It was a statewide election in a state of seven million people, and it came down to just a few hundred votes. If Mayes had narrowly lost instead of narrowly winning, her investigation wouldn’t be happening. The perpetrators might have gone down under federal law anyway. But this Arizona state level investigation helps further ensure that justice is served.
This is what I mean when I say elections have consequences. It’s also why we need to focus our nationwide resources on the races that we know are going to be the closest to begin with. The Arizona Attorney General race was always going to be a super close toss-up race. Palmer Report had that AG race pegged as having national significance throughout the 2022 election cycle. We won it by the narrowest of margins because our side (meaning you) decided put in the effort to win it. And now Trump is on track to potentially stand criminal trial in Arizona because of your efforts. As we gear up for 2024, let’s put that same smart focus on the most closely competitive elections once again. We’re getting good at this by now.
