![]() ![]() According to the Reporters Committee For Freedom Of The Press, anti-SLAPP laws are intended to prevent people from using courts -or the threat of litigation- to intimidate people who are exercising their First Amendment rights.Īll of which could make it harder for Richer to show the statements fall outside the protections of the First Amendment, which Richer must do to prevail in the case. Such speech has been highly protected by Arizona courts in recent years.Īrizona law also protects against strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP). In addition, the allegedly defamatory statement must “imply assertions of material fact that are provably false” instead of simply statements of opinion.īut Richer is also an elected official, which often requires a higher threshold for proving defamation, even for a lawsuit brought in the official’s individual capacity.Īnd the vast majority of the alleged defamatory statements by Lake and her campaign are connected to political speech, including campaign advertising and fundraising. In Arizona, a private person suing for defamation must show that a defendant not only made a false and defamatory statement, but knew the false and defamatory nature of the statement and then acted in reckless disregard of the falsity of statement or negligently failed to ascertain them. Lake has not yet announced who will represent her in court, but Arizona Daily Independent has confirmed that service was effected against the three defendants last week by email. Points to Lake’s assertion that Richer, as Maricopa County Recorder, “sabotaged the election to prevent Republican candidates, including Lake, from winning.” Richer also contends Lake and the other defendants have “repeatedly and falsely” accused him of causing Lake’s loss to Katie Hobbs last November. Richer contends Lake “controls” Save Arizona Fund even though the Arizona Corporation Commission lists the only directors as Caroline Wren and Nicholas Moore. Richer’s lawsuit names two other defendants: Lake’s official campaign committee which she chairs and the nonprofit Save Arizona Fund Inc. It is a pattern Richer complains about in the lawsuit, alleging Lake has “raised money and benefited” from “defamatory falsehoods” about him. They want to outlaw questioning elections. ![]() Guess who's paying for lawfare attack against the Protect Democracy Project! The far-left organization that wages lawfare against #AmericaFirst politicians. In turn, Lake is using the litigation during public appearances and interviews to seek legal defense funds and as an opportunity to promote her book which comes out June 29. He is seeking compensation for “substantial reputational, financial, physical, emotional, and professional harm,” according to the lawsuit. Richer, also a Republican, is suing the former longtime television news anchor in his personal, not official, capacity. I’m told all expenditures went toward taking-down… Elections continues to bash me and President Trump.ĭo you think he will run 2024 elections fairly?įYI: In 2022 he formed a super-PAC to bring down MAGA candidates. The so-called “Republican” in charge of Maricopa Co. “Those who orchestrated the wide-spread fraud want us to shut-up and accept it. “I’m exposing the massive corruption in our elections and this jackass is suing me,” she wrote in a tweet after learning of the lawsuit. In fact, she has spent the last few days dogging Richer with a series of tweets and retweets. Lake appears unfazed by the 104-page lawsuit filed June 22 on Richer’s behalf by attorneys Daniel Maynard and Douglas Erickson. ![]()
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