Maricopa Recorder Seeks Court docket Intervention After Staff Focused in Prison Probe – Journal Posts
Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap has filed an emergency motion seeking court intervention after armed sheriff’s deputies appeared at the homes of three Recorder’s Office employees and informed them they were under criminal investigation.
Heap said the investigation stems from allegations made by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and county Elections Department concerning election equipment at the center of ongoing litigation between his office and the board. He argues the employees are being investigated for attempting to use equipment purchased entirely with Recorder’s Office funds and owned by his office, adding that a court has already determined the equipment was unlawfully taken from the Recorder’s Office and ordered returned.
Calling the investigation an escalation in a broader campaign against his staff, Heap said board officials have spent the past 18 months making false accusations, retaliating against employees, and forcing several members of his senior staff to obtain outside legal counsel. He also accused the board of threatening, doxing, and publicly attacking employees for carrying out their duties.
According to Board Chairwoman Kate Brophy McGee, security footage showed two Recorder’s Office employees removing a scanner from the county’s tabulation and election center in March while City of Tempe election results were being processed. Officials also alleged provisional ballot affidavit envelopes were taken from a secure area. The scanner was returned within an hour, and a later review found all ballots and envelopes accounted for. After an internal investigation, the matter was referred to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, which appointed a special prosecutor to determine whether any criminal activity occurred.
Heap was elected in 2024 with support from Republicans who challenged the 2020 election in Maricopa County. His attorney in the dispute is James Rogers, a Republican candidate affiliated with America First Legal, the law firm founded by President Trump adviser Stephen Miller.
Read Heap’s Press Release
Source: 12 News