Attorney General Mayes issues statement following fake electors hearing
Aug 28, 2024
PHOENIX – Attorney General Kris Mayes released a statement after this week's hearings in the fake electors case.
"Today, my prosecutors addressed the court in the fake electors case in response to the defendants' motions to dismiss the charges. These motions are a distraction and an attempt to deflect from the facts of this case and muddy the waters in the public eye. Let me be clear: the indictments in this case were not politically motivated. They were the result of a thorough, lengthy, and professional investigation carried out by experienced and dedicated law enforcement officers and prosecutors."
Mayes emphasized that "these indictments were issued by an independent grand jury composed of ordinary Arizonans who carefully reviewed the evidence and found that there was sufficient cause to charge the defendants with the alleged crimes. This is how our justice system is supposed to work—independent of political pressure, focusing on the facts and the law."
She added that "attempts to frame these charges as politically motivated are not only baseless but undermine the public's trust in the judicial process."
Addressing concerns about First Amendment rights, Mayes stated, "this case is not about the defendants' First Amendment rights. The actions in question are not protected speech. The law draws a clear line between free expression and illegal conduct, and we believe the evidence shows that the defendants crossed that line. I am confident this court will see through the defendants' groundless arguments and reject these attempts to distort the facts of this case."
Concluding her statement, Mayes affirmed, "we will remain focused on ensuring that the defendants are held accountable under law, and we will continue to pursue this case with commitment and integrity that Arizonans deserve."