In an unexpected turn, U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake claims that emails containing crucial evidence in her defamation lawsuit have been purged. But the story surrounding these “missing” emails appears shaky under scrutiny. The lawsuit, filed by Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, has raised fresh questions about Lake’s claims and legal strategy.
Lake’s Campaign Closure Timeline Sparks Doubts
Lake’s attorney, Tyler Swensen, argued in court on October 21 that the campaign email accounts—linked to Lake’s 2022 gubernatorial race—were dissolved almost a year before Richer’s defamation suit was filed. If true, Lake wouldn’t be obligated to preserve those emails for the case. Yet records show that her gubernatorial campaign was active through the end of 2023, long after the defamation lawsuit was filed.
The campaign, Kari Lake for Arizona, spent substantial sums well into 2023, filing its final finance report only in January 2024. In contrast, Richer filed his lawsuit back in June 2023, six months before Lake’s campaign shut down. This timeline raises eyebrows and casts doubt on Swensen’s claims about the “purge.”
The Judge Pushes for Facts Over “Beliefs”
Swensen’s defense rested heavily on vague phrasing, describing Lake’s belief that emails were purged as an “understanding.” But Judge Randall Warner pressed him to clarify. “‘Understanding and belief’ is something that lawyers often use when they want to hedge,” Warner noted. The judge’s comment highlighted the lack of solid evidence about when or how the emails were erased—if they ever were.
Swensen, however, couldn’t provide specific answers, only saying he was “unsure” if Lake herself could confirm the details. This ambiguity, combined with the campaign’s ongoing payments to platforms like GoDaddy and Google, has left Lake’s explanation looking less than credible.
Lake’s Claims of Fraud and Defamation
Lake’s legal troubles stem from her allegations that Richer, the Maricopa County Recorder, played a role in her loss to Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs in 2022. Lake’s accusations—stating without evidence that Richer enabled the counting of hundreds of thousands of “illegal ballots”—ignited fury among her supporters. However, court after court has rejected her voter fraud claims, often citing a lack of evidence.
Richer, meanwhile, argues that Lake’s baseless accusations brought threats to his home and disrupted his family’s life. As part of the defamation case, Richer is seeking damages, not just for his reputation but also to cover security expenses and emotional distress for himself and his family.
Document Access Becomes a Major Point of Contention
Since accepting a default judgment, which legally confirmed her statements about Richer were false, Lake has faced escalating demands to hand over documents. Her campaign’s reluctance to provide comprehensive records has caused prolonged delays in the case. Judge Warner has repeatedly ordered Lake to produce communications between her campaign team, Save Arizona Fund (a nonprofit tied to Lake), and other entities regarding her statements about Richer.
While some documents have been provided, Richer’s legal team describes them as incomplete. One of Lake’s staffers turned over a short list of media articles about her statements, though it appears to be a trimmed version of a larger dataset.
Funding and Legal Costs in the Spotlight
Lake’s political organization, the Save Arizona Fund, also factors into the defamation case. The dark money fund has supported Lake’s legal efforts to contest the 2022 election results and may play a role in how damages will be determined. Campaign finance reports reveal that Lake’s team continued to fund hosting and server services through December 2023, suggesting that data retention was possible even after her gubernatorial bid ended.
Swensen, however, describes Richer’s document requests as overly broad, complaining that they yield thousands of pages to sift through. Warner had already instructed Richer to narrow his requests, but Swensen insisted, “It’s just, it’s got to end at some point.”
Next Steps: Lake’s Credibility Under the Microscope
With the court now set to determine how much Lake owes in damages, the question of email access could weigh heavily on the outcome. If it’s proven that evidence was knowingly destroyed or withheld, the implications could extend beyond financial penalties. For a candidate with a reputation for high-profile accusations, this defamation case represents a significant test of Lake’s credibility.
As Richer’s legal team continues to press for documents, including donation records tied to Lake’s statements, Lake faces mounting pressure. Her email “purge” explanation remains questionable, and whether voters buy her story or see it as another deflection tactic remains to be seen.
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