Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich is siding with Republican legislators who are requesting access to election materials in Maricopa County.
“Our filing today in the subpoena dispute between the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and the legislature details why the Arizona Legislature has constitutional authority to investigate the County’s administration of elections,” Brnovich tweeted.
Our filing today in the subpoena dispute between the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and the legislature details why the Arizona Legislature has constitutional authority to investigate the County’s administration of elections.
Read amicus brief: https://t.co/lE1Tx9gOZu pic.twitter.com/M0i7NBjO88
— Mark Brnovich (@GeneralBrnovich) December 30, 2020
The amicus curiae brief filed by Brnovich argues Maricopa County’s contention that the Legislature lacks the power to issue subpoenas is mistaken.
“The County incorrectly takes a narrow view of the legislative subpoena power,” the amicus brief says. “The legislative power to issue subpoenas is inherent in the power to legislate. … Consequently, the legislative subpoena power is ‘broad’ and ‘encompasses inquiries concerning the administration of existing laws as well as proposed or possibly needed statutes.'”
The announcement from Brnovich comes after a Maricopa County Superior Court judge dismissed the Arizona state Senate’s request to review voting machines and election records as part of a GOP-led audit of the county’s election results. In a ruling earlier on Wednesday, Judge Randall Warner said the litigants did not follow proper procedure in issuing their subpoenas but afforded them the opportunity to refile their case. If the case is not refiled, it will be dismissed on Feb. 1.
The dismissal marks the latest in a string of legal rulings against the Trump campaign’s broad efforts to challenge the election outcome. Undeterred by the setbacks, supporters of the president continue to pursue legal avenues in their unlikely bid to upend the results. The Trump team earned a high-profile backer when Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley announced that he would support Republicans’ plans to protest certification of the Electoral College’s vote when it comes before Congress on Jan. 6.
President Trump was encouraged by the development and sent out an enthusiastic tweet in response.
“JANUARY SIXTH, SEE YOU IN DC!” he teased.
