Audio Has Arizona Politician In Hot Water
U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake has reportedly been offered what she perceives as a bribe by the chair of the Arizona Republican Party, Jeff DeWit, in an attempt to dissuade her from running for the next two years.
The revelations come from a 10-minute recording obtained and authenticated by London's Daily Mail, indicating that DeWit expressed concerns about powerful individuals wanting to prevent Lake from entering the political race. The conversation said to have occurred in March, adds weight to Lake's claims of facing opposition to her political aspirations and contributes to the controversies surrounding the state GOP.
According to the Daily Mail's account, DeWit expressed skepticism about former President Donald Trump's chances of winning re-election, suggesting it was time for a change. He allegedly mentioned that there were suggestions from "back east" about finding companies willing to put Lake on the payroll to keep her out of the political arena. Lake responded, emphasizing the importance of defeating Trump and expressing her concern for the country.
In the recording, DeWit reportedly asked Lake if there was a financial number at which she could be persuaded, to which Lake asserted, "This is not about money. It's about our country." DeWit then proposed that Lake take a pause from politics for a couple of years, assuring her she could return to her previous pursuits. He framed the offer as a concern about her ability to raise funds for a successful campaign rather than an attempt to control her.
BREAKING: Arizona Republican Party chair Jeff DeWit caught on secret recording trying to bribe Kari Lake not to run for the Senate.
Holy s***!
"There are very powerful people who want to keep you out," he said.
At one point during the secret recording, Lake was asked to name… pic.twitter.com/9r1DoDzITD
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 23, 2024
Jeff DeWit, a key figure in Trump's 2016 and 2020 campaigns and the former chief financial officer of NASA in the Trump administration, took over as the chair of the Arizona GOP in January 2023. Earlier in the 2022 U.S. Senate race, DeWit chaired the campaign for Jim Lamon, a business executive seeking Trump's endorsement. However, the endorsement ultimately went to Blake Masters, who won the GOP nomination but lost the election to Senator Mark Kelly.
The financial strain on the Arizona Republican Party has been notable, with reports suggesting DeWit sought a financial bailout from the Republican National Committee in November. The latest fundraising numbers reported by the state GOP indicate record sums from a broader base of individual donors, despite the reported financial pressures.
1. Somebody tried to bribe Kari Lake.
2. That’s very illegal.
3. We need to know who it was.
4. Hats off to Kari Lake for telling the guy to pound sand and not hesitating for even an instant. https://t.co/ujNrjFg53y
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) January 24, 2024
Kari Lake, a prominent figure in Arizona politics, entered the Senate race in October with the endorsement of former President Trump. The reported attempt to dissuade her from running raises questions about the internal dynamics within the Arizona GOP and the challenges faced by political figures diverging from the party's established narratives.
This revelation also comes amid a backdrop of financial struggles and controversies within the Arizona Republican Party. The recording sheds light on the internal discussions and strategies employed by party leaders, emphasizing the complexities of political maneuvering and the lengths to which some may go to influence the trajectory of political races. As the story unfolds, it adds a new layer to the ongoing discussions around party politics and the delicate balance between individual aspirations and party interests in the political landscape.