August 19, 2020 / Modified aug 19, 2020 5:32 p.m.

Arizona attorney general won't investigate election law complaint about Trump

Secretary of State Katie Hobbs' complaint alleged the Trump administration violated election law regarding ballot delays.

Early Voting Sticker A voter displays their "I Voted Early in Pima County" sticker.
AZPM

The Arizona Attorney General’s office has turned away a complaint from Secretary of State Katie Hobbs that President Donald Trump violated Arizona election law by attacking the U.S. Postal Service.

Hobbs' complaint alleged that Trump violated Arizona election law that makes it a misdemeanor to “knowingly delay the delivery of a ballot.”

Joe Kanefield, chief deputy and chief of staff for the attorney general, said in response to Hobbs' complaint that the secretary of state did not provide any evidence that the President prevented the delivery of any Arizona ballot.

“These allegations are purely speculative, and your letter contains no information or evidence establishing that the delivery of any Arizona ballot has been illegally delayed. As you aptly note, '[m]isinformation is dangerous to the electoral process and undermines voter confidence.' Making accusations of criminal misconduct by the President and other federal officials based on mere conjecture undermines the integrity of our elections and does even more damage coming from a 'trusted source' for election information,” wrote Kanefield.

Hobbs responded on Twitter to the decision not to pursue the case.

“Yesterday, Attorneys General from 20 different states took legal action to protect USPS and the ability to vote by mail. I’m disappointed to hear that Attorney General Brnovich is unwilling to even investigate,” she tweeted.

Nearly 90% of voters in Arizona’s primary election earlier this month, voted early. Most of those ballots were cast by mail.

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