The Daily Mail released an audio recording of Arizona Republican Party Chair Jeff DeWit allegedly trying to convince Kari Lake to stay out of politics for two years by suggesting he could find her a well-paying nonpolitical job in the private sector. He said during the call, which was reportedly recorded at the beginning of March last year, “So the ask I got today from back East was, ‘Is there any companies out there or something that could just put her on the payroll to keep her out?’”
Lake declined his offer.
“This is about defeating Trump and I think that’s a bad, bad thing for our country,” she said.
Later, he brought it up again. “Just say, is there a number at which….,” he said.
Lake said, “I can be bought? That’s what it’s about.”
DeWit (pictured above) added, “You can take a pause for a couple of years. You can go right back to what you’re doing.”
She continued to object, “This is not about money, it’s about our country,” and said she wouldn’t even take a billion dollars.
She said she would not be “bought,” calling it “immoral.”
DeWit told her not to “tell people” afterward. Lake said, “I’m not … if they’re gonna steal the election to make me and our movement go away. I’m not letting them do that. I owe it to the people of Arizona to carry their torch and voice.”
DeWit did not identify the “very powerful people” back east who wanted Lake to drop out of politics. He said it wasn’t Jim Lamon, a wealthy businessman who has supported the AZGOP, who moved to Arizona from Arkansas and unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate last year. He and Lake discussed how the effort was due to them preferring Ron DeSantis over Trump as the Republican’s presidential candidate since there was a perception Trump could not win.
DeSantis dropped out of the race on Sunday.
It is not clear whether DeWit’s exchange with Lake violates criminal bribery statutes. It is against Arizona law to bribe a “public servant” or “party officer.” But Lake must fall into one of those definitions. The definition of public servant is here and the definition of party officer is here. The exchange might also violate the corrupt electors statute.
Republican leadership began calling for his resignation. Maricopa County Republican Chair Craig Berland said if the allegations are true, DeWit should resign.
SHOCKING REVELATION OF PERSON WHO TRIED TO GET KARI LAKE @KariLake TO STAY OUT OF POLITICS
"If this is, in fact, true, I'm asking AZGOP Chairman Jeff DeWit to resign." —MCRC Chairman Craig Berland#MCRC #AZGOP pic.twitter.com/XQrxL6t1Xj
— Maricopa County Republican Committee | MCRC (@MaricopaGOP) January 22, 2024
Bryan Blehm, one of Lake’s attorneys, posted on X, “If @JeffDeWitAZ does not resign immediately, he must be removed as chairman of the Arizona GOP. It is obvious that he represents the East Coast interests rather than Arizona Republicans and the people of the State of Arizona.”
If @JeffDeWitAZ does not resign immediately, he must be removed as chairman of the Arizona GOP. It is obvious that he represents the East Coast interests rather than Arizona Republicans and the people of the State of Arizona. https://t.co/QCNp7Kxk3X
— Bryan Blehm (@BlehmLawAZ) January 23, 2024
Lake disclosed last year at CPAC that someone tried to give her a large amount of money if she would drop out of politics, but did not name anyone. It was not disclosed who recorded the phone call nor how it was leaked. DeWit was initially identified during a radio show hosted by Tucson talk show host Garret Lewis. The Arizona Sun Times reached out to DeWit and Lake for comment but did not receive a response before press time.
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Rachel Alexander is a reporter at The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Rachel on Twitter / X. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Kari Lake” by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0. Background Photo “Arizona Capitol “by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0.
