TL/DR –
Kari Lake, a failed Republican candidate for governor and current U.S. Senate candidate, is seeking to have a defamation lawsuit against her dismissed. The suit was filed by Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer and documents instances where Lake allegedly spread false allegations about election rigging. Richer contends that these false accusations have resulted in death threats and damage to his personal relationships and professional reputation.
Defamation Lawsuit Against Kari Lake: The Details
Failed Republican governor candidate Kari Lake, currently running for the U.S. Senate, is pleading with a judge to discard a defamation lawsuit lodged against her by Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer.
Lake propagated dangerous false allegations about election rigging against Richer and Maricopa County supervisors, even after courts found no evidence supporting her claims of intentional wrongdoing.
Richer’s Counterclaims Against Lake
Richer’s lawsuit includes numerous instances where Lake, as fact, restated the accusations, such as alleging ballot tampering and the addition of 300,000 invalid votes to prevent her election win. In an essay for The Arizona Republic about his lawsuit, Richer wrote that these assertions are entirely false.
Richer emphasizes that not only are Lake’s accusations baseless, but multiple court rulings have also confirmed their lack of validity.
Lake’s Double Standards
Despite numerous failed attempts to validate her accusations in court, Lake now seeks to deny Richer a fair trial. Her lawyers argue that Richer’s lawsuit is an attempt to silence an election integrity critic.
However, it’s important to differentiate between criticism and accusation; the latter could lead to physical harm. Richer noted that Lake’s damaging words have incited death threats from her followers, impacting his personal and professional security.
The Real Threats
Richer’s concerns aren’t unfounded; MAGA enthusiasts’ threats are real and potentially harmful. In August, a man, Frederick Francis Goltz, was sentenced to prison for threatening the lives of Richer, County Attorney’s Office Civil Division Chief Tom Liddy, and election poll workers after being inflamed by false information about Arizona’s elections.
Unfounded accusations can have serious consequences for the victims, and they should also hold the perpetrators accountable.
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