Maricopa County recorder files defamation lawsuit against Kari Lake
Jenny Goldsberry
Video Embed
Failed gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake is now facing a defamation lawsuit from Maricopa County recorder Stephen Richer.
In the suit, Richer is claiming Lake and her campaign and super PAC “knew or recklessly disregarded the falsity of those accusations” of election fraud after Lake lost to Democratic candidate Katie Hobbs.
GAS PRICES TODAY: WHERE TO FIND THE CHEAPEST FUEL ACROSS THE COUNTRY
“Courts at every level of the Arizona judiciary have concluded that Defendants have no evidence to support their wild claims,” the suit reads. “But Defendants continued to spread these egregious and harmful falsities to further their own agendas — and line their own pockets — at Richer’s expense.”
Richer cited video recordings and social media posts of Lake making election fraud claims. Now he is asking that all references of the misinformation be removed from all websites and social media platforms.
Additionally, Richer is seeking nominal, punitive, and compensatory damages along with the costs of attorney’s fees and the lawsuit without disclosing the amount. To avoid the suit from going to trial, Richer is also demanding that Lake make a relief statement that all previous allegations made by her and her campaign and super PAC were actually false.
Stephen Richer v. Kari Lake
“I’d hoped the defamation would stop after the election. I waited. I’d hoped it would stop after the first election trial. I waited. I’d hoped it would stop after the appeal. I waited. I’d hoped it would stop after the second trial. I waited. I’d hoped it would stop after she got a new job. I waited,” Richer tweeted Thursday. “But then I realized I AM the job. Defaming me is her path to campaign donations, speaking opportunities, and national trips.”
https://twitter.com/stephen_richer/status/1672027807470481408
Lake could not be reached for comment. While she has yet to make a public statement of her own, she shared a tweet one user posted to her Twitter profile.
https://twitter.com/DC_Draino/status/1672251844213522442
“When corrupt gov’t officials start suing private citizens to silence them, that’s a really good sign that we should get 10x louder,” the tweet read.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The failed politician also retweeted another user who claimed he would continue to contribute to Lake’s super PAC despite the lawsuit, in an apparent attempt to encourage others to do the same.
Meanwhile, Richer is up for reelection next year. He has only served one term so far.