Less than a week after dropping his appeal of the election loss, Mark Finchem paid more than $49,000 in fines related to the incident.
Mr. Finchem apparently took action prompted by a discovery request from attorney Craig Morgan, who represented Secretary of State Adrian Fontes in an election dispute. Sanctions intended to cover legal fees for the case were imposed in late May, but Finchem took no action.
The discovery request sought information about Finchem’s assets, including cars, property holdings and guns.
Morgan described it as a common next step when judgment is ignored.
“A lawyer wanting to recover a judgment won by a client will send a very basic request,” Morgan said. He sent a discovery request in late July to pressure Finchem to take action.
done. The check was dated August 2nd.
But the request also served as the basis for Finchem’s fundraiser with the headline “They Want All My Guns, Donors, Bank Statements.”
Former Republican candidates for secretary of state wrote that the discovery request was the “greatest invasion of privacy in Arizona history,” arguing that Mr. Fontes and the Democrats were trying to destroy his life.
He then linked to his fundraising page and said he needed $200,000 immediately to pay his lawyer. The appeal, which was sent on August 4, did not mention the fact that he paid the full amount.
Learn more about Mark Finchem: He wants to run for political office in Arizona.It is not yet clear which
Finchem lost the secretary of state election last fall to Democrat Fontes by more than 120,000 votes.
The $49,000 check not only covered Mr. Finchem, but also attorney fees, interest and other taxable expenses for Katie Hobbs, who was still secretary of state when Mr. Finchem filed his lawsuit late last year. ing.
Mr. Fontes was nominated to be the next secretary of state and bore most of the legal costs, about $40,000, while Mr. Hobbes’ attorney fees amounted to about $7,500.
Morgan said he plans to send the check to Mr. Hobbes’ attorney once it clears the bank.
He also said he will apply for the release of sanctions against Finchem in several counties of Pima, Pinal, Maricopa and Yavapai where Finchem is reported to reside recently. Mr. Finchem, who has served in Congress as a resident of Southern Arizona’s Oro Valley and has run for Secretary of State, applied to run for a state Senate seat in Prescott, Arizona.
Finchem is currently paying a fine imposed by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Melissa Julian, but is still appealing the fact that the sanction was imposed in the first place. He argued that the judge made an error in her decision.
This lawsuit is pending in the Arizona Court of Appeals.
Here’s where to contact reporters: maryjo.pitzl@arizonarepublic.com Or contact her at 602-228-7566 and follow her on Twitter @maryjpitzl .
