Cochise County Seeks Legal Coverage for Election Certification Dispute
Cochise County is hoping that its insurance provider will take care of a hefty $300,000 legal bill linked to its supervisors’ attempts to postpone the certification of the 2022 midterm election results.
The county recently submitted a letter to the Arizona County Insurance Pool, explaining that a request had come from Republican Supervisor Thomas Crosby to cover his legal expenses. This situation, described as “illegal criminal prosecution” by the county, appears to be escalating.
In light of this, two other Republican supervisors, Frank Antenori and Kathleen Gomez, have rallied behind Crosby, advocating for his fight against allegations of misconduct prior to their term. By pushing for the insurance coverage, they seem to signal their backing for his controversial stance.
Legal representation for the county, attorney Michael J. Rusing, asserted that the insurance pool would be justified in covering the legal fees associated with Crosby’s claims. He contended that Crosby acted within his authority when he voted to delay the election certification, which had already surpassed the established deadline.
Rusing stated that, in this context, Crosby is “a designated insured under the policy” while conducting his duties as a supervisor. However, Crosby has not yet commented on the matter when approached by media.
According to Crosby’s attorney, a June 9 notice claimed the county has already incurred about $263,000 in legal fees, alongside an additional $3,800. The attorney projects that the final costs could skyrocket, estimating an additional $50,000 to $200,000 as proceedings continue. In this claim, the attorney has formally requested a $300,000 payment in an effort to resolve the matter.
During a recent meeting, Antenori and Gomez voted in support of sending a letter to the insurance pool requesting assistance. Meanwhile, Crosby was absent, which officials noted was due to a conflict of interest.
This request for taxpayer coverage has further highlighted tensions in Southern Arizona, drawing national attention.
Earlier in November 2023, a judge had charged both Crosby and another Republican supervisor, Peggy Judd, with conspiracy and interfering with election officials. The allegations suggest they intentionally obstructed an Arizona secretary in an effort to manipulate the vote.
Meeting minutes indicate the county attorney reminded supervisors about a crucial deadline during discussions. Notably, when questioned about the possible implications for missing that deadline, Crosby was reported to have responded, “I probably don’t remember.”
It’s worth noting that Crosby skipped the vote to recognize the certification by the statewide deadline.
Judd, who entered office at the end of 2024, has already entered a guilty plea to a misdemeanor, while Crosby’s case continues to unfold. Recently, an Arizona judge denied his request to dismiss the charges, placing his trial potentially in September.
Crosby has maintained his innocence, asserting that he did not interfere with statewide certifications or conspire with any voting entities. His defense also argues that the certification was improperly placed on the agenda.
Officials from the Arizona County Insurance Pool have not yet provided responses to inquiries regarding this situation.
The insurance pool serves as a risk management entity for local government, with participation from 13 out of 15 counties in Arizona. Notably, the two largest counties, Maricopa and Pima, do not participate.
In prior developments, the insurance pool had approved other claims from Cochise County relating to the 2022 elections. Following those elections, the former electoral director filed a lawsuit claiming harassment after she refused to conduct a hand count of votes, which she deemed illegal. The insurance pool ended up covering $55,000 of her $130,000 legal bill.
