Breaking News: Arizona County Supervisors Charged with Election Interference

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In a significant development, two Cochise County supervisors in Arizona, Terry Crosby and Peggy Judd, have been indicted on charges of conspiracy and interfering with an election officer. This action stems from their attempts to delay certifying the 2022 midterm election results. The indictment, filed on Nov. 27 by the state’s attorney general, alleges that Crosby and Judd conspired to hinder the vote canvass in Cochise County, thereby impacting the secretary of state’s ability to complete a statewide vote canvass by the deadline.

The incident unfolded when Judge Casey McGinley instructed the board of supervisors to declare the election results official after the statutory deadline of Nov. 28, 2022, was missed. This delay by Cochise County marked it as the only jurisdiction not to certify results by the deadline. Crosby and Judd had sought to delay certification over claims of uncertified voting equipment, demanding a hand count of all ballots. However, election officials confirmed that the machinery was correctly approved and functional.

The third supervisor, Anne English, who voted against postponing the results, faces no charges. Attorney General Kris Mayes has vowed to uphold the rule of law and ensure free and fair elections, condemning any attempts to undermine democracy. Meanwhile, Dennis Wilenchik, representing Crosby, argues that the charges are baseless and politically motivated, as the board eventually certified the results before the statewide deadline.

The situation adds to the ongoing dialogues and legal challenges surrounding election integrity and administration in the United States.