Former Arizona state Republican Party Chair Jeff DeWit broke his silence after resigning over bribery allegations, highlighting the chaos at the state party convention where Kari Lake was booed. DeWit called for unity and criticized Lake's use of secret recordings. The tumultuous events followed leaked audio of DeWit allegedly trying to persuade Lake to step back from politics. The Arizona Republican Party faces financial pressure and internal divisions, with Donald Trump's canceled fundraiser adding to the turmoil. Gina Swoboda, a Trump ally, was elected to succeed DeWit as chair amidst disputes over election integrity.
Kari Lake, a Trump-backed candidate for the Arizona GOP, was met with boos and jeers as she nominated Gina Swoboda, who was endorsed by Trump, as the new party chair after Jeff DeWit's resignation over a leaked recording scandal. Swoboda, known for spreading false claims about the election system, won the majority of votes and replaced DeWit, who was caught on tape appearing to offer Lake money to stay out of the Senate race. The shift toward far-right control of the party in Arizona comes as Lake is the frontrunner for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, expected to face Rep. Ruben Gallego in the general election.
Kari Lake revealed details of a meeting with Jeff DeWit, who allegedly tried to bribe her to drop out of the U.S. Senate race. Lake taped the conversation after DeWit's urgent visit to her home raised suspicions. DeWit resigned as Arizona Republican Party chair after a leaked audio recording of the encounter. Lake's team denied any underhand tactics and demanded DeWit apologize to the people of Arizona. The incident has added fuel to the already charged Senate race in Arizona.
Jeff DeWit, the chairman of the Arizona Republican Party, resigned after an audio recording surfaced of a conversation between him and Kari Lake, in which Lake alleges that DeWit tried to bribe her to stay out of the 2024 Senate race. DeWit denies the bribery claim and states that he is resigning because Lake is threatening to release additional recordings of him.
Arizona GOP chair Jeff DeWit resigned after a recording surfaced of him offering Kari Lake a job in exchange for quitting her U.S. Senate race, prompting accusations of betrayal and corruption. DeWit cited a potential release of a damaging recording as the reason for his resignation, while Lake criticized his actions and called the recording "corrupt." The recording, made a year ago, revealed DeWit urging Lake to consider leaving the Senate race and doubting Trump's chances of reelection. The Arizona GOP will need to fill the vacancy left by DeWit's resignation.
Arizona GOP chairman Jeff DeWit resigns amid pressure from GOP Senate candidate Kari Lake after a leaked audio recording revealed a conversation in which DeWit discussed financial benefits for Lake staying out of the 2024 Senate race. DeWit claimed Lake threatened to release a more damaging recording if he did not resign. Lake's senior advisers denied the allegations, while DeWit stated that the conversation was intended to offer perspective, not coercion. The controversy highlights the ongoing turmoil within the Arizona GOP, with the state poised to play a pivotal role in the 2024 elections.
Arizona Republican Party Chairman Jeff DeWit resigned after a recording surfaced of him allegedly trying to dissuade Republican Kari Lake from running for the state’s U.S. Senate seat in 2024. DeWit suggested she run for governor instead and mentioned powerful people wanting to keep her out, leading to accusations of bribery. DeWit claimed the recording was selectively edited and accused Lake of orchestrating the situation to gain control of the state party. Lake's campaign denied the bribery allegations and stated that DeWit's resignation allows the party to focus on ethical leadership and winning in 2024. This marks the second recent scandal involving a Republican Party state chair, following the removal of Florida's chairman over rape allegations.
Arizona GOP Chairman Jeff DeWit resigned after a leaked recording revealed him offering a job and asking U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake to name a price that would keep her out of politics. DeWit's departure comes as the Republican Party in Arizona gears up for a crucial election, and the leaked recording has caused a stir in the state's political landscape. The recording, leaked before a fundraiser for the Arizona GOP, has led to DeWit's resignation and raised questions about Lake's use of recordings in her public appearances.
The chairman of Arizona's Republican Party, Jeff DeWit, resigned after a recording surfaced suggesting he attempted to bribe Kari Lake, a former nominee for governor, to drop her 2024 Senate campaign. In the 10-minute conversation, DeWit appeared to offer a bribe to keep Lake out of the race, prompting her to repeatedly reject the approach. DeWit denied the conversation amounted to bribery and stated his intention to return to the business sector.
The chair of the Arizona Republican Party, Jeff DeWit, resigned after a leaked audio recording revealed him seemingly trying to bribe Kari Lake, a U.S. Senate candidate, to stay out of the race. DeWit denied the bribery attempt and accused Lake of violating his trust by recording their conversation. The leaked conversation has caused turmoil within the Arizona Republican Party as it prepares for a crucial organizing meeting, and it remains to be seen how this scandal will impact the upcoming Senate race in Arizona.
Arizona GOP Chairman Jeff DeWit resigned after a leaked recording revealed him offering a job and asking U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake to name a price to stay out of politics. DeWit denied intending to bribe Lake, stating he was offering candid advice as a friend. The recording, leaked before a Trump fundraiser for the Arizona GOP, has shaken up the party in a battleground state. Meanwhile, Lake, known for recording confrontations, has used the leaked recording to bolster her image as an outsider. DeWit's resignation comes amid a tumultuous period for state GOP chairs, with the Florida GOP chairman also leaving amid a police investigation.
Arizona GOP chair Jeff DeWit has resigned following the release of a leaked audio recording in which he appears to be discussing a potential bribe with former gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake. DeWit claims the tape was selectively edited and used deceptively, while Lake's campaign denies any threats or blackmail. DeWit's resignation comes amid growing controversy, with the Lake campaign calling for ethical leadership and focusing on winning in 2024.
Jeff DeWit, chair of the Arizona Republican Party, resigned after leaked audio revealed him offering Kari Lake a job or money to stay out of politics. DeWit accused Lake of setting him up and resigned in the hope that it would end her attacks on him. The audio, from a conversation in early March 2023, sent shockwaves through Republican circles. Lake, known for echoing Trump's election denialism, refused the offer and demanded DeWit's resignation.
