Arizona’s top law enforcement officials are urging county recorders to withhold full, unredacted voter files from the federal government as investigations into the state’s 2020 election continue. The probes are being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Attorney General Kris Mayes and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, both Democrats, jointly warned county recorders that providing such data to the U.S. Department of Justice would “violate both federal and state law.” They encouraged recorders to “fulfill your oath by declining any such illegal demands,” hinting at potential legal action if those demands are met.
The officials’ letter arrives as the Trump administration continues efforts to revisit the results of the 2020 presidential election, an election that withstood numerous challenges and reviews. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), typically focused on narcotics and human trafficking, has recently been examining past elections in Arizona.
Records show HSI requested records from the 2020 election investigation conducted by former Attorney General Mark Brnovich, a Republican. That investigation, like a subsequent legislative audit, found no evidence of widespread fraud or conspiracy.
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Fontes is currently involved in a lawsuit with the DOJ regarding his refusal to provide voter rolls containing personally identifying information, including full birthdates and Social Security numbers. So far, federal officials haven’t directly requested voter rolls from counties, suggesting the letter from Mayes and Fontes is a precautionary measure.
Officials in Pinal and Yavapai Counties have reported not receiving any requests for voter rolls from the DOJ. However, Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap, a Republican, recently attended a press conference with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. Following the event, Heap announced his office identified 137 noncitizens on the county’s voter rolls, a number experts suggest is likely inflated due to the unreliability of the database used.
The FBI has subpoenaed records from Maricopa County related to the 2020 election, including ballot images. These records were previously turned over to news outlets and advocacy groups following a legislative review. The FBI declined to comment on the focus of its investigation.
Emails between the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and an HSI investigator suggest the agency’s inquiry may center on debunked claims about the 2020 election, including late-arriving ballots and questionable ballots from unknown printers. Mayes has called the HSI investigation “unserious” and based on “conspiracy theories and lies.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What action have Arizona officials taken regarding federal requests for voter data?
Attorney General Kris Mayes and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes jointly wrote a letter to county recorders urging them not to hand over full, unredacted voter files to the federal government.
Which federal agencies are investigating Arizona’s 2020 election?
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security are both conducting probes into the state’s 2020 election.
Has any evidence of widespread fraud been found in Arizona’s 2020 election?
Investigations conducted by both the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and a legislative audit have found no indication of widespread fraud or conspiracy.
As investigations continue, will Arizona counties comply with federal requests for voter data, or will they adhere to the guidance from state officials?
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