OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Maricopa County, Arizona, Recorder Stephen Richer’s defamation lawsuit against fellow Republican Kari Lake will proceed to trial, according to the Arizona Supreme Court.
Richer sued Lake due to her allegations that he was involved in the election tampering that she lost to Gov. Katie Hobbs in 2022. He claimed that misleading claims made by Lake and her campaign resulted in violent threats against his family and security issues.
Richer requested compensation from the court and is requesting that Lake take down the allegedly disparaging remarks.
Judge Jay Adelman of Maricopa County Superior Court turned down Lake’s motion to dismiss the case last year, concluding that Lake’s lawyers had not produced sufficient evidence that Richer had filed the lawsuit for an improper reason. She appealed that decision, but a panel of the Arizona Court of Appeals rejected it.
In January, Lake, who is currently a candidate for the U.S. Senate, appealed to the Arizona Supreme Court over the decision.
The case can now move forward with discovery and trial after the high court lifted the stay and issued an order rejecting the appeal.
The ruling comes as Lake is running for the U.S. Senate.
Sens. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming and Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma will support Arizona Senate Republican Kari Lake for the U.S. Senate on Monday, the Daily Caller reported.
Mullin and Lummis both expressed their opinion that Lake would be the ideal candidate to upset the status quo in Washington and defeat Rep. Ruben Gallego, the Democratic opponent.
“Kari Lake is an America First fighter who isn’t afraid to take on the radical socialists threatening our way of life. Arizonans have paid a heavy price for Biden’s failed policies, and they can count on her to help get our country back on track. I’m proud to endorse Kari Lake as the next Senator for Arizona,” Mullin told the Caller.
The Republican from Arizona who campaigned for governor in 2022 is a strong favorite to win the GOP primary.
Lake will compete against Gallego in a three-way general election if chosen as the front-runner.
“Kari Lake is the fighter Arizonans need in the Senate. She is the common sense choice for Arizona who will secure the border, rein in spending, and restore American Energy Independence. Her opponent votes with Joe Biden 100 percent of the time, including on all the reckless spending, and enabling the border crisis. I am proud to endorse Kari,” Lummis told the Caller.
Former President Donald Trump, Senators John Barrasso of Wyoming, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Jim Banks of Indiana, and Elise Stefanik of New York have all endorsed Lake.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) has also endorsed Lake.
“I am thankful for the endorsement of Senator Mullin and Senator Lummis. They are conservative fighters who have stood up to Joe Biden’s radical agenda. I look forward to working with them in the Senate to make America strong again,” Lake said in response to the two endorsements.
Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs has endorsed Rep. Ruben Gallego as he competes in the 2024 Senate race.
“Congressman Gallego’s commitment to fighting for Arizona will make him an excellent senator for our state,” Hobbs, a Democrat, said in a statement.
“I’m proud to support my former colleague and my friend in this race, and I know he has what it takes to defeat chaos’s ringleader once again. Come January, I look forward to working with Rep. Gallego in the U.S. Senate to deliver results for Arizona.”
Gallego, a Democrat, expressed gratitude for his longtime friend and one of the state’s most dedicated public servants.
