Phoenix County Recorder Stephen Richer filed a defamation lawsuit on Thursday, alleging a former TV news anchor defamed former gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake after she lost the 2022 Arizona gubernatorial race. .

Richer and Lake, both Republicans, had a feud that lasted for days and months after the 2022 election because Lake repeatedly refused to concede to the incumbent Governor Richer in the gubernatorial race. Katie Hobbs (Democrat).

Lake was one of the most prominent election deniers of the 2022 election cycle, claiming the 2020 election was stolen from former President Trump and that the 2022 election was similarly rigged. To date, there is no evidence to support either claim.

Richards suit Names Lake and her Political Action Committee, the Kari Lake Arizona Fund and the Arizona Relief Fund, alleging they are “engaging in a joint campaign to defame, intimidate and isolate me.” he said in a statement. Arizona Republic Opinion.

Mr. Richer’s role as Maricopa County Recorder was to oversee the truthfulness of the voter rolls, assist in the production of ballots, and assist in the administration of elections within the county.

The complaint alleges that Lake consistently and systematically lied about Ms. Richer’s actions, resulting in numerous harassment and death threats.

Mr. Richer said Mr. Lake allegedly stuffed ballot boxes with 300,000 invalid ballots without evidence and used his role as a scorer to make the ballots unclear to voters.

“Over the past seven months, I have been subjected to constant harassment, threats, and threats to my life and that of my family because the defendants in this case spread lies about me, my job, and my election. ‘, said Richer in a statement. .

“In America, no one is above the law. I stand by that principle and seek justice for what my family and I have been through,” he added.

The complaint seeks Lake to retract his statements and apologize for undisclosed monetary damages.

Mr. Lake did not respond to a request for comment.