Kari Lake Makes Surprising Legal Move

Kari Lake, the aspiring Senator in Arizona, has chosen not to defend herself against liability in a defamation lawsuit filed by Stephen Richer, a Republican election official in Maricopa County. Richer, who oversaw the county’s 2022 elections, accused Lake of falsely blaming him for her electoral loss in the gubernatorial race to Democrat Katie Hobbs.

Lake’s legal team has moved for a default judgment, indicating that while she is not contesting her liability, she intends to challenge the extent of damages claimed. Lake has also requested that Richer provide medical and psychiatric records to substantiate his claims of health deterioration due to the lawsuit’s stress.

Additionally, Lake seeks to have a jury decide on the default judgment hearing, according to NBC News.

“Defendant Kari Lake lost the November 2022 gubernatorial election. Instead of accepting that defeat, Lake—together with her campaign and a fundraising entity she controls—accused Plaintiff Stephen Richer of intentionally sabotaging the election,” the lawsuit from Richer claims.

WATCH:

“As a result of Defendants’ knowing and malicious falsehoods, Richer and his family have been the target of threats of violence, and even death, and have had their lives turned upside down.”

Throughout her 2022 gubernatorial campaign, Lake, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, claimed that she was the rightful winner, often targeting Richer in her allegations. Among her claims, Lake accused Richer of deliberately misprinting ballots to cause tabulation machines to malfunction on Election Day.

The 2022 Arizona election experienced significant issues with vote tabulation machines not accepting ballots. Investigations later attributed the malfunctions to changes in ballot paper.

“But there is no constitutional right to spread intentional or reckless falsehoods that cause harm to another person. Richer brings this case to hold Defendants accountable for such falsehoods and to obtain redress for the harm done to him and to his family,” the lawsuit stated.

“Courts at every level of the Arizona judiciary have concluded that Defendants have no evidence to support their wild claims,” Richer’s suit says. “But Defendants continued to spread these egregious and harmful falsities to further their own agendas—and line their own pockets—at Richer’s expense.”

In response to Lake’s refusal to participate in the lawsuit, Richer stated on X (formerly Twitter) that Lake’s decision implies an acknowledgment of lacking evidence to support her claims and an abandonment of her First Amendment defense arguments.

“After months of doubling down and defending their lies across Arizona, in the media, and on social media, when push came to shove, the Defendants decided to completely back down and concede that their lies were just that: lies,” wrote Richer on Tuesday.

“Because of their actions, my family and I have faced an endless barrage of threats — including calls for our execution — I have lost close personal relationships, and I have had my reputation irreparably damaged. I have said from the beginning that no one is above the rule of law and today further validates that belief. I look forward to entering the damages phase of this case.”

Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego currently holds a small advantage in the polls over his Republican opponent Lake in the Senate race for Arizona.