Arizona Senate Election Audit Liaison Resumes Resignation, Without Building Recount Ban

Arizona Republican charged with serving as a “liaison” between the GOP-led state Senate and the controversial Maricopa County 2020 presidential audit has announced he is stepping down Wednesday, but resumed his statement in the evening, saying he would not do so. to resign.

Ken Bennett, who served as Arizona Secretary of State from 2009 to 2015, made the remarks on a Wednesday interview with conservative radio host James T. Harris. Bennett told Harris that while he played a pivotal role in the months-long effort, recent events have left him wondering if his continued participation in the audit could put his own credibility at risk.

Republican state Senate leaders have permanently banned Bennett from the building where the audit is taking place last week after it emerged he had shared audit data with outside analysts without receiving the prior authorization from the President of the State Senate, Karen Fann, according to The Republic of Arizona. Bennett said he was “surprised” that Fann insisted on Monday that he would still be “involved and a vital part” of the final audit reports.

“I was very surprised by the letter released yesterday by President Fann. I remain excluded from the audit and as such it is impossible for me to really function as a liaison,” Bennett told Harris. “I am going to resign today … I will not pretend to be part of a process or pretend to be the liaison when I am not.”

But on Wednesday night, Bennett announced he would not resign, having made a deal with Fann, according to The Republic of Arizona. He will also be authorized to return to the building where the count took place.

Bennett has described himself as a “name-only liaison” or “LINO” – apparently mocking the nickname “RINO” or “name-only Republican” – which some have recently used to describe Republicans who refuse to do so. Undoubtedly endorse the audit or those who promise less than total loyalty to former President Donald Trump and his unsubstantiated allegations of massive voter fraud.

“Right now I’m just the liaison in name – I don’t know if that makes me a LINO, or what,” Bennett said. “I cannot put a stamp on a product that I am excluded from its development … I am only the liaison in name and I cannot be excluded from a process which is at its most critical phase in this respect. which concerns the production the final report which will be made public.

The controversial audit is led by a company called Cyber ​​Ninjas. Critics have expressed concerns about a chaotic and partisan audit process, noting that Doug Logan, the company’s CEO, posted several social media posts ahead of the audit, indicating his support for conspiracy theories that claim wrongly that the election was “stolen” from Trump.

While Bennett has insisted he still supports the audit despite his resignation on Wednesday, he is far from the first prominent Republican in the state who has previously professed his enthusiasm for the audit but now expresses concern as to its credibility and transparency.

Republican Senators Paul Boyer and Michelle Ugenti-Rita both recently denounced the audit. Boyer said supporting the “ridiculous” audit made Republican lawmakers “dumb”, while Ugenti-Rita called the audit “sloppy” and accused Fann of “utter lack of competence” .

Regardless of the results of the final audit reports, the 2020 election results will remain unchanged. President Joe Biden won Arizona by more than 10,000 votes last November, results certified by Congress, granting Biden all 11 votes in the State Electoral College.

News week contacted Fann’s office for comment but did not receive a response until the time of publication.

Update (07/28/2021, 10 p.m.): This article has been updated to reflect that Bennett has changed his mind about resigning.