FBI Subpoenas Records in Arizona as Trump Election Probe Widens

PHOENIX (AP) — The FBI is expanding its investigation into the 2020 presidential election, obtaining records from Arizona’s state Senate related to a controversial audit of the election results in Maricopa County. This move comes as the Trump administration continues to pursue claims of widespread election fraud, despite numerous investigations finding no evidence to support those claims.

Arizona Senate Complies with Subpoena

Arizona State Senate President Warren Petersen announced Monday that he had complied with a federal grand jury subpoena “late last week” for records pertaining to the 2020 election audit. Petersen stated, “The FBI has the records,” but offered no further comment. A spokesperson for Senate Republicans indicated Petersen has no additional information to share at this time. The FBI’s Phoenix office has not yet responded to requests for comment. PBS

Second FBI Request for 2020 Election Records

This is the second instance this year where the FBI has sought records related to the 2020 election from a key battleground state. In January, the FBI seized ballots and other records from Fulton County, Georgia, following a search warrant issued by the Justice Department. The Georgia investigation also centers on unsubstantiated claims of election fraud.

Controversial 2020 Audit

The Arizona audit, conducted by a firm called Cyber Ninjas, was widely criticized for its biased methodology and lack of expertise. The audit ultimately failed to produce evidence supporting former President Donald Trump’s claims of a stolen election. In fact, the audit found that President Joe Biden received 360 more votes than initially reported in Maricopa County. Cyber Ninjas acknowledged “no substantial differences” between their hand count and the official count. AZ Capitol Times

Political Reactions

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, criticized Petersen’s compliance with the subpoena, stating that multiple audits and legal challenges have already debunked claims of widespread fraud. Mayes accused the Trump administration of “weaponizing” federal law enforcement to pursue “crackpots and lies.”

Federal Investigations and Voter Data

The investigations come amid ongoing clashes between the Justice Department and several states, including Arizona, over access to detailed voter data. Election officials have raised concerns about potential violations of data privacy laws and the possibility of using the information to remove voters from state rolls. The Justice Department has sued Arizona to obtain this voter information. Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, indicated that some Maricopa County voter files may have been among the records provided to the FBI and is considering legal options to protect voter information.