1 Arizona official pleads guilty

PHOENIX — One of two southern Arizona Republican officials charged in an election interference case has reached a plea deal, authorities announced Monday.

Cochise County Supervisor Peggy Judd pleaded guilty to failure or refusal to perform duties by an election official, a Class 3 misdemeanor, according to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

Under the terms of the agreement, she will be sentenced to at least 90 days of probation and fined up to $500.

“Today’s plea agreement and sentencing should be a clear reminder that I will not hesitate to use every tool available to uphold the rule of law and protect the integrity of elections in Arizona,” he said. Attorney General Kris Mayes said in a press release.

What are the details of the election interference case?

Judd and fellow Republican Supervisor Tom Crosby were indicted in November 2023 for failing to certify Cochise County’s 2022 midterm election results by a state-mandated deadline.

They were each charged with one count of conspiracy and interference with an election official. Crosby’s case is still ongoing and is expected to go to trial in January.

Supervisor Ann English, the only Democrat on the three-member board, was not charged in the election interference case. She voted to certify the results on time.

His Republican counterparts, meanwhile, held out beyond the deadline and only agreed to certify the results after receiving the order from a Superior Court judge.

Judd and Crosby did not discuss any problems with the election results. Rather, they said they were not confident that the machines used to tabulate the ballots were properly certified for use in the election, although state and federal election officials confirmed that they were.

“Any attempt to interfere in Arizona’s elections will not be tolerated. My office will continue to seek justice and ensure that anyone who undermines our election system is held accountable,” Mayes said.

Follow @kstonezone