Key takeaways:
- Judge Melissa Iyer Julian dismissed Mark Finchem’s lawsuit, which requested a new election and alleged misconduct by then-Secretary of State Katie Hobbs.
- Hobbes and Adrian Fontes, the winner of the secretary of state race, filed a motion for sanctions against Finchem and his attorney.
- The judge granted the motion, declaring the lawsuit “groundless and not brought in good faith” and sanctioning Finchem and his attorney.
A judge in Maricopa County, Arizona has ordered sanctions against Republican Mark Finchem, the losing candidate in the state’s secretary of state race, for filing a lawsuit challenging the election results without substantial justification.
Judge Melissa Iyer Julian dismissed Finchem’s lawsuit in December, which requested a new election and alleged that then-Secretary of State Katie Hobbs had engaged in misconduct. The lawsuit also claimed that illegal votes were cast due to errors in the laboratory testing of voting machines and voting software issues.
Finchem, a Donald Trump-backed election denier who has yet to concede his defeat, had alleged misconduct in Adrian Fontes’ win by more than 120,200 votes to become secretary of state. He also claimed that Hobbs wrongly flagged his Twitter account for misinformation, and didn’t seek proper approval for voting machines and software.
After the dismissal of the lawsuit, Hobbes joined Fontes in filing a motion for sanctions against Finchem and his attorney, Daniel McCauley III. The judge granted the motion on Monday, declaring the lawsuit “groundless and not brought in good faith.”
Finchem’s challenge of the election results has been widely criticized by Arizona election officials and voting rights advocates. The judge’s decision to sanction Finchem and his attorney is seen as a victory for those who believe in the integrity of the election process.
Be First to Comment