Judicial Watch Sues Maricopa County Recorder on Issue of Using Government Resources in Personal Lawsuit against Kari Lake

(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch announced today it filed an Arizona Public Records Law lawsuit against Stephen Richer in his official capacity as the Maricopa County Arizona Recorder for records involved in using staff to pursue personal interests, including his personal defamation lawsuit against Kari Lake – Senate candidate and 2022 gubernatorial candidate (Judicial Watch, Inc. v. Stephen Richer, in his official capacity as Maricopa County Recorder (No. CV-2024-028791)). (The recorder’s office helps conduct and supervise elections.)

The suit was filed in the Superior Court for the State of Arizona after Richer failed to respond to a March 25, 2024, open records law request for:

• Any documents directing the utilization of Maricopa County Recorder Office (MCRO) staff to search for information concerning the personal defamation lawsuit involving Kari Lake.
• Any information submitted to the Court(s) in official litigation proceedings regarding the personal defamation lawsuit.
• Any time sheets, invoices, or receipts, indicating MCRO expenses related to obtaining information in the lawsuit.
• Any documents addressing 1st Amendment rights including articles, op-eds, and/or speeches, generated by Mr. Richer and/or MCRO staff.
• Any MCRO policies, addressing:
  • Conflict of interest
  • Using County/Office resources for personal use
• Any documents indicating current MCRO employees from former Senator McSally’s office.

In November 2022, Republican gubernatorial hopeful Kari Lake questioned the results of Maricopa County’s electoral procedure. Lake criticized both Richer and her opponent, Democrat Katie Hobbs, who was the incumbent secretary of state in charge of overseeing election operations. In June 2023, Richer filed a defamation lawsuit.

On March 23, 2024, an article from AZ Free News reported, “Public records revealed that Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer tasked staff with compiling articles and online content pertaining to his personal defamation lawsuit against Kari Lake – Senate candidate and 2022 gubernatorial candidate – as well as topics of personal political interest.”

Richer recently made the news again for aligning with the left-leaning States United Democracy Center to target election speech.

“It is curious that Judicial Watch is getting the runaround on the potential use of government resources to target Kari Lake with a defamation lawsuit,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.

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