Judge Slams Arizona GOP's 'Flimsy Excuses' For Recount, Orders $18,000 Fine
03/16/21 AT 1:09 PM
The Georgia Republican Party must pay $18,000 in legal fees incurred by the Arizona secretary of state defending the presidential election result. The request for a recount of the 2020 election had already been tossed out, but Judge John Hannah Jr. ordered further restitution and lambasted the motivations.
Republican lawyers had argued the ballots needed to be counted by hand a second time, alleging that the first hand-count hadn’t followed proper procedures.
Judge Hannah instead said officials “followed the Elections Procedures Manual to the letter,” noting that the plaintiffs didn’t actually allege wrongdoing and instead simply cited “public mistrust.”