CONFUSION: Arizona GOP Was Told They Could Finally Audit 2020 Ballots, Then Maricopa County Declared 'Negotiations Continue'
After the Arizona Senate announced it had reached a deal with Maricopa County over a forensic audit, the Board of Supervisors claimed negotiations were ongoing.
Last month, the Arizona State Senate issued subpoenas against the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors for their Dominion voting machines and software in order to perform a full forensic audit of the county, where suspicions were raised about the integrity of the presidential election. However, the county decided to resist the subpoenas, claiming they were just “political theatre.”
Supv Steve Gallardo (D): "Not interested in trying to satisfy a small, small group of loud participants at the expense of a certified tabulation system. I'm not interested in trying to do a sideshow when it comes to uh, uh, the information to the millions of voters." Disgraceful! pic.twitter.com/JRmoJI7Dlw
— Arizona Republican Party (@AZGOP) December 18, 2020
On Wednesday, over a month after the subpoenas were issued, and the day of Joe Biden’s inauguration, it seemed as if the Board of Supervisors had finally backed down. “I am pleased to announce that after a hard-fought battle to seek information on behalf of Arizona voters regarding the integrity of the 2020 election, we have reached a favorable agreement,” said State Senate President Karen Fann in a statement:
Not only has the Board agreed to turn over all the relevant information we sought in our subpoenas so that we may perform an audit, but they also acknowledge that the Legislature is a sovereign power of the state and that the county is a political subdivision, and as such, the Legislature has the constitutional and statutory authority to issue subpoenas. Chairman Jack Sellers was instrumental in facilitating this agreement and I appreciate his efforts. I look forward to continuing our work to restore integrity and faith in our election process.
🚨 Maricopa County audit incoming. https://t.co/Suv9R2Gtpa
— Republican Party of Arizona (@AZGOP) January 20, 2021
However, the celebrations were short-lived for Arizona voters – only a few hours after Fann’s statement, Maricopa County Chairman Jack Sellers said in a statement that negotiations over the audit were still ongoing:
The Board of Supervisors through its legal team continues to negotiate in good faith with the representatives of the Arizona State Senate President. This Board is being updated as negotiations continue on the terms of a potential agreement. The parties are working toward an agreement which delivers some of the requested documents and information while protecting voter privacy and the integrity of election equipment.
We look forward to reaching consensus on these matters. This Board has always been consistent in supporting a forensic audit & will continue to take steps toward that end. Members are actively working with stakeholders, including the Recorder, and hope to have an audit completed soon.
2/4 This Board is being updated as negotiations continue on the terms of a potential agreement. The parties are working toward an agreement which delivers some of the requested documents and information while protecting voter privacy and the integrity of election equipment.
— Maricopa County (@maricopacounty) January 20, 2021
4/4 Members are actively working with stakeholders, including the Recorder, and hope to have an audit completed soon."
— Maricopa County (@maricopacounty) January 20, 2021
The Arizona GOP reacted incredulously to the statement. “Seriously?” the official AZGOP Twitter account wrote.
"on the terms of a potential agreement"
"working toward an agreement"
"some of the requested documents"…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..seriously? https://t.co/8elRGYPlZV
— Arizona Republican Party (@AZGOP) January 20, 2021
It is unclear at this present time as to the current state of the Maricopa County audit.
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