Kari Lake told fans Tuesday she was excited to prove elections are “truly corrupt” at an upcoming two-day trial ordered in her lawsuit challenging election results that show she lost to Democratic rival Katie Hobbs.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Peter Thompson tossed eight of 10 counts in Lake’s lawsuit Monday but allowed two to proceed, giving Lake a chance to prove her theory of intentional election misconduct in a two-day trial.
“Christmas came early yesterday,” Lake told people attending a Turning Point USA rally in Phoenix. “This is so historic.”
Lake added that Hobbs can’t “duck out” of testifying and that Hobbs “will have to take the stand.” But her legal team on Tuesday withdrew its subpoena to force Hobbs’ testimony in the case.
Hobbs will not be testifying, the Secretary of State’s Office confirmed.
The trial is scheduled for Thompson’s Mesa courtroom Wednesday and Thursday; lawyers were expected to submit witness schedules and other details by Tuesday. A separate order Monday by Thompson turned down Hobbs’ motion to avoid testifying in the trial; her lawyers filed an emergency appeal before Lake’s team withdrew the subpoena. The appeal noted that Lake’s remaining claims had nothing “whatsoever” to do with Hobbs or “personal knowledge she may have.”
Even without Hobbs testimony, which − despite Lake’s claim − could have been done virtually, the short trial was welcomed enthusiastically by Lake and other promoters of election-conspiracy claims.
“We’re taking these bastards to trial,” Lake told the Turning Point crowd. “We’re really excited. We have an excellent case.”…