Petersen Refers Arizona Leaders to DOJ Amid Election Investigation Dispute
In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing debate over election integrity in Arizona, State Senate President Warren Petersen has accused prominent Democrats of obstructing a federal investigation into the 2020 presidential election. Petersen referred Attorney General Kris Mayes and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes to the Department of Justice, claiming their actions constitute obstruction of justice and witness tampering.
“Today I referred Kris Mayes and Adrian Fontes to the Department of Justice for obstruction of justice and tampering with a witness,” Petersen announced via social media.
Criticism arose from Mayes and Fontes after Petersen turned over records from the Arizona Senate’s review of the 2020 Maricopa County election to the FBI, following a grand jury subpoena. The review, spurred by Donald Trump’s unfounded claims of voter fraud, confirmed Joe Biden’s victory. The Democrats voiced concerns regarding the potential exposure of sensitive voter data, asserting it is safeguarded by privacy laws.
On March 9, Democratic officials addressed county recorders in a letter, advising against sharing confidential voter information with federal authorities, even in response to subpoenas. Subsequently, on March 31, Petersen received a query from the Attorney General’s Office, requesting clarification on the data provided to the FBI.
The inquiry focused on whether confidential voter data, including that of participants in the state’s Address Confidentiality program, had been disclosed. Petersen, who is pursuing the Republican nomination for attorney general against Mayes, did not respond directly to the letter. Instead, he forwarded the correspondence to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, labeling it an improper attempt to meddle with a federal investigation.
Mayes and Fontes have consistently argued against the Trump administration’s attempts to access Arizona’s voter data, citing violations of privacy laws. Meanwhile, Petersen maintains that compliance with federal grand jury subpoenas is mandatory, criticizing the Democrats’ warnings as detrimental to public trust in elections.
Petersen’s legal stance is supported by Brett Johnson, an Arizona election attorney, who argued that the opposition from Mayes and Fontes lacks substantial legal grounding. The Attorney General’s March 31 letter acknowledged a court decision allowing state officials access to election materials, provided confidentiality laws are observed.
Fontes insists on transparency concerning the handling of voter data, emphasizing the importance of legal compliance. He stated, “While we have been assured that voter registration information for individuals protected by court order or the address confidentiality program was not turned over to the Arizona State Senate during the audit in early 2021, the state Senate and the federal government continue to sidestep direct questions regarding which voter information may have been made available illegally.”
Mayes accused Petersen of furthering Trump’s agenda to destabilize trust in Arizona’s election process, suggesting the actions are a prelude to contesting future election outcomes. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona has not provided additional comments on the matter, reiterating their policy of not confirming investigations.
For further details on Petersen’s past requests for federal investigations, refer to previous coverage here.
—
Read More Arizona News
