Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich has slammed Merrick Garland for threatening to involve the federal government in Maricopa County’s forensic audit of the 2020 election results.
Last week, Merrick Garland, who the Biden administration appointed as Attorney General, announced that they would “scrutinise” post-election “audits to ensure they abide by federal statutory requirements to protect election records and avoid intimidation of voter,” including the upcoming publication of “guidance explaining the civil and criminal statutes that apply” to them. As of the time of writing, the only state who is currently performing an audit of the 2020 election is Arizona, whose forensic audit of the Maricopa County results has been much derided by the mainstream media and leftist activists.
JUST IN – Attorney General Merrick Garland announces that the Justice Department will scrutinize any post-election audits for evidence of voting law violations. pic.twitter.com/asXkJtXzby
— Disclose.tv
(@disclosetv) June 11, 2021
In a letter to Garland, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich slammed his comments as being “troubling,” and displaying “an alarming disdain for state sovereignty.” Brnovich said that the current “posturing” against the Maricopa County forensic audit did not “amuse” his office, adding that they will not” tolerate any effort to undermine or interfere with our State Senate’s audit to reassure Arizonans of the accuracy of our elections.”
Brnovich reminded Garland that the states created the federal government, not the other way around, in what seemed to be a clear challenge to Garland’s attempt to assert illegitimate authority over Arizona and their electoral process. “Arizonans will not sit back and let the Biden administration abuse its authority, refuse to uphold laws, or attempt to commandeer our state’s sovereignty,” Garland said, adding in a tweet that they stand ready “to defend federalism and state sovereignty against any partisan attacks or federal overreach.”
We stand ready to defend federalism and state sovereignty against any partisan attacks or federal overreach. https://t.co/FPx96b8Cg1
— Mark Brnovich (@GeneralBrnovich) June 14, 2021
Brnovich is not the first elected official from Arizona to slam Garland for his comments on the Maricopa audit. “These guys are a clown show,” wrote Arizona Rep. Mark Finchem, who is now running for Arizona Secretary of State. “They want to intrude in an area that is exclusively state’s jurisdiction to manage [elections],” but “they couldn’t be bothered when we called on them for action before the audit,” Finchem added. “Maybe AG Garland would like to engage in the prosecutions that should arise from quite possibly the biggest racketeering case in American history?”
Arizona Rep. Wendy Rogers also responded forcefully. “If Attorney General Merrick Garland thinks he has a right to our ballots and machines he should go to court. If he uses force when multiple courts have already authorized this audit he will be in violation of the law,” Rogers said. In another tweet responding to a video of Garland’s statement, Rogers warned Garland not to touch “Arizona ballots or machines,” lest he wants to “spend time in an Arizona prison.”
Following the 2020 election, Brnovich joined a lawsuit started by the state of Texas and joined by 18 other states, challenging the results of the election over election integrity issues. “It’s important that everyone has faith in the system and the results of the election,” Brnovich said at the time. “The rule of law is about consistency and certainty… Our legal filing ensures Arizona’s interests are protected, and I look forward to the Supreme Court addressing these national election concerns.”