In a dramatic turn of events, the judge overseeing the alternate Trump electors case in Arizona has thrown the entire prosecution into jeopardy by signaling that he is open to hearing evidence that could prove the case is nothing more than a politically motivated witch hunt. This development has sent shockwaves through Arizona’s political landscape and left illegitimate Attorney General Kris Mayes seething with anger.
The judge wanted to know more about whether the state’s anti-SLAPP law applies to the case before him. The anti-SLAPP law specifically prohibits politically motivated prosecution. Photo Credit: Getty Images
In a recent X(Twitter) post by @BehizyTweets on Wednesday August 28th, 2024, the judge’s unexpected decision comes as he seeks to determine whether Arizona’s anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) law could be applicable in this high-profile case. The anti-SLAPP law, which is designed to protect individuals from frivolous lawsuits and politically motivated prosecutions, may hold the key to whether the charges against the Trump electors can be swiftly dismissed.
The defendants, who have maintained their innocence throughout the legal ordeal, argue that they were merely exercising their First Amendment rights in the aftermath of the contentious 2020 election. They claim that the prosecution, spearheaded by Kris Mayes, is a direct retaliation against their lawful actions, making it a textbook case for the application of the anti-SLAPP law. If successful, this argument could lead to the case being dismissed outright, a stunning blow to Mayes and her attempts to prosecute those involved in challenging the election results.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has charged Donald Trump’s allies with conspiring to overturn the state’s presidential election. Photo Credit: Ross D. Franklin/AP
The judge’s interest in whether the anti-SLAPP law applies is particularly significant because it suggests that he is not convinced by the state’s case. The law specifically prohibits prosecutions that are driven by political motivations, and if the defendants can demonstrate that Mayes’ legal theory is not “clearly established,” they could win a quick dismissal. This would not only vindicate the Trump electors but also cast a dark shadow over Mayes’ legitimacy as Arizona’s attorney general.
Kris Mayes, whose controversial rise to the position of attorney general has been mired in accusations of election fraud, is reportedly furious over the judge’s latest move. Many in Arizona still believe that the 2022 attorney general race was stolen from Republican candidate Abe Hamadeh in broad daylight, further fueling the argument that Mayes herself should be the one on trial, not those who sought to protect the integrity of the 2020 election.
This latest twist has sparked outrage among conservatives and Trump supporters, who see it as a clear sign that the legal system may finally be waking up to the rampant political bias that has plagued prosecutions related to the 2020 election. They argue that the true crime was the theft of the election itself, not the actions of those who tried to stop it.
