The Lions of Liberty, a Yavapai County conservative group, announced Thursday that it will stop monitoring outdoor ballot drop-boxes amid federal lawsuits.
The group said the statement emailed to the volunteers was an “official cease and desist order.”
“I decline sponsorship of Operation Drop Box,” it said in a statement. “From this point on, there will be no more Lions of Liberty organization.”
The lawsuit, filed by Protect Democracy on behalf of the Arizona League of Women Voters, targeted the Lions of Liberty and Clean Elections USA, a conservative group that organizes drop-box surveillance in the Phoenix area. The lawsuit asked a federal judge to stop ballot box observers from occupying Arizona polling places.
The lawsuit comes days after voters began reporting ballot drop-box monitors from Yavapai County. Observers were also seen taking pictures and videos of voters at his two outdoor ballot drop-boxes in Maricopa County near downtown Phoenix and Mesa.
Based in Prescott, a city of about 50,000 people north of Phoenix, the Lions of Liberty are a self-proclaimed “robust core of conservative patriots full of interest and enthusiasm.”
It is led by Jim Arroyo, former vice president of the Oathkeeper chapter in Arizona. The group’s website says the country has been “hijacked and weakened by the world’s elite, communists, leftists, Deep State bureaucrats and fake news.”
“We will not back down, give up or apologize for what we must do to win this battle,” the website reads.
Voting guide: Where to Drop off Your Arizona Ballot and How to Track It
The lawsuit alleged that the intent and effect of the Observers was to intimidate voters.In a statement, the Lions of Liberty appeared to criticize Clean Elections USA and said in the lawsuit that they had “no relationship with us.” It has been named alongside “other organizations whose desire for law and order is far inferior to ours.”
A lawsuit is ongoing, according to Protect Democracy and The League of Women Voters of Arizona. In a joint statement, both organizations said they were “delighted” to see the Freedom Lions step down.
“Dropbox’s surveillance pursuant to Operation Dropbox constitutes voter intimidation in violation of federal law,” the statement said. “While the Lions of Liberty board’s announcement to end surveillance of drop-boxes is a positive development, until all groups stop their illegal activities and Arizona people can vote in peace again. I promise to continue the lawsuit.”
Organizations aren’t the only ones filing lawsuits against ballot box monitors. Another but similar lawsuit by The Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans and Voto Latino also names Clean Elections USA and its founder, Melody Jennings. She claims Jennings orchestrated a “vigilante voter intimidation campaign” and is asking a federal judge to issue an emergency order to stop the group from gathering near ballot drop boxes.
Veronica Lucero, the attorney representing Jennings, countered at Wednesday’s court hearing on that case. She said the proposed emergency order was too broad and would violate Jennings’ rights.
Federal Judge Michael Libbledi says he wants to decide whether to approve the injunction by Friday.
Sasha Hupka covers Maricopa County and regional issues in the Republic of Arizona, focusing on voting and democracy.Any tips on her election or questions about voting?Contact her sasha.hupka@arizonarepublic.com Follow her on Twitter. @SashaHupka .
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