PHOENIX — A Maricopa County judge on Wednesday denied U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake’s motion to dismiss a defamation lawsuit brought by fellow Republican Stephen Richer, one of the county’s top elections officials. . . .
The statements were related to Richer’s conduct as Maricopa County recorder during Lake’s 2022 run for governor.
Adleman also dismissed Lake’s lawyer’s contention that her comments fell in the category of protected political speech.
“Defendant Lake’s statements regarding improper 19-inch ballots and/or the existence of 300,000 fraudulent ballots may be discerned by a factfinder as either true or false when considered in the light of any available evidence. These statements constitute assertions of fact that are actionable under prevailing Arizona law,” Adleman wrote . . .