PHOENIX — Top staff for Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap referred a viral election-tampering claim to the FBI. An investigator later found no wrongdoing, according to a report obtained by 12News.
On Oct. 9, a We the People USA Alliance social media post, citing the county’s public livestream, said Board of Supervisors employees were in the ballot tabulation center after 10:30 p.m. The post drew about 1 million views. The Republican National Committee and alliance leader Shelby Busch raised the concern with Heap’s office, the report said.
Two Heap aides filed a complaint with the FBI’s Phoenix office. The FBI referred the matter to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. The AG investigator concluded both employees “were authorized to be present in the tabulation center after hours… and were performing their official duties.”
Board Chair Kate Brophy McGee said Heap could have cleared it up with a phone call and accused his team of adding to a climate of fear for election workers. Heap spokeswoman Judy Keane said suspicious after-hours activity in tested facilities “should always be investigated.” Secretary of State Adrian Fontes called the referral “an absolute waste.”
The flare-up comes less than three weeks before Election Day. Heap oversees early voting and registration; the Board oversees Election Day voting and tabulation. The Phoenix FBI office said it was aware of the incident and pointed to county and AG statements.
Sources: 12News. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: FBI / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
