Arizona judge rules out sanctions against Kari Lake but orders $33,000 in fees - Axios

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Kari Lake speaking astatine  a rally successful  Scottsdale, Arizona, successful  November 2022.

Kari Lake speaking astatine a rally successful Scottsdale, Arizona, successful November 2022. Photo: Jon Cherry/Bloomberg via Getty Images

An Arizona judge connected Tuesday declined to contented sanctions against erstwhile GOP gubernatorial campaigner Kari Lake for a now-dismissed lawsuit she brought to overturn her decision successful the state's governor's race.

Driving the news: Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Peter Thompson ordered Lake to wage astir $33,000 successful ineligible fees to Arizona Democratic Gov.-elect Katie Hobbs, the state's caput of state who won the race by astir 17,000 votes and was named arsenic a suspect successful the lawsuit.

  • Lake was ordered to compensate adept witnesses that testified successful the proceedings implicit the lawsuit.
  • Hobbs had requested sanctions against Lake.

The latest: Lake filed a notice of appeal successful Arizona Superior Court to situation the dismissal of her lawsuit.

What they're saying: "There is nary uncertainty that each broadside believes firmly successful its presumption with large conviction,” Thompson wrote. "The information that plaintiff [Lake] failed to conscionable the load of wide and convincing grounds ... does not equate to a uncovering that her claims were, oregon were not, groundless and presented successful atrocious faith."

The large picture: Thompson rejected Lake's ineligible bid past week, ruling she did not beryllium that predetermination officials committed misconduct that would've changed the result of the race.

  • The dismissal confirmed Hobbs' triumph successful the race.
  • During her campaign, Lake — a Trump-backed campaigner who pushed baseless predetermination denial claims — stated that she would contention an unfavorable result successful the election.

What's next: Hobbs is acceptable to beryllium sworn successful arsenic the politician of Arizona adjacent month.

Go deeper: Kari Lake loses bid to overturn Arizona predetermination results

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