Last Updated on May 6, 2021
Law enforcement officials in Maricopa County, Arizona are refusing to turn over electronic devices subpoenaed by the Arizona State Legislature this week, claiming that compliance with the legislature’s lawful order would create an unspecified “security risk” to “law enforcement data.”
A letter signed by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and addressed to former Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett vigorously defended officials’ decision to not turn over internet routers, but did not elaborate on the purported risk that complying with the subpoena would cause.
“While the County was delivering the subpoenaed material to the Senate’s custody on Thursday, April 22, 2021, MCAO was notified that delivering routers, or ‘virtual images’ of routers, posed a significant security risk to law enforcement data utilized by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office as well as numerous federal agencies,” the letter stated, adding, “We also learned that if criminal elements or others gained access to this data, it might compromise county and federal law enforcement efforts and put the lives of law enforcement personnel at risk.”
The letter continued, “For the past week, we have attempted to find a solution that would allow the County to provide virtual images of the routers as we had planned. But we have been unable to find a way to eliminate the significant risks to MCSO and its state and federal law enforcement partners.”
As National File previously reported, Arizona Democrats recently settled a lawsuit with a firm involved in the audit of ballots cast in Maricopa County during the 2020 election:
After a lengthy lawsuit that saw the Democrats achieve few victories in their goal of stopping the audit of the 2020 ballots in Maricopa County, Arizona, they have reached a settlement with the firm involved in the audit and the Senate Republicans that will see the firm, Cyber Ninjas, cease verifying the signatures on early voting envelopes with the signatures on file from the voter.
With only 9 days left to go before the audit is set to be completed, signature verification will cease immediately. According to the settlement, Cyber Ninjas “and their agents will not compare signatures on early ballot envelopes with signatures from the voter registration file.The Senate Defendants warrant and represent that they are not currently comparing signatures on early ballot envelopes with signatures from the voter registration file, and will notify Plaintiffs within 48hours of any decision to undertake such signature comparison and afford Plaintiffs 48 hours to respond to resolve any concerns.” Additionally, “If the parties cannot resolve the issue in a mutually agreeable manner, Plaintiffs may seek emergency injunctive and/or declaratory relief in court to seek compliance with the law.”
