Arizona GOP Chairman resigns after bribe attempt

NxNW · Jan 24, 2024

Arizona G.O.P. Chairman Resigns After Tape Suggests Attempt to Bribe Kari Lake

The chairman of Arizona’s Republican Party resigned abruptly on Wednesday, a day after the publication of a 10-minute recording of a conversation between himself and Kari Lake, a former nominee for governor, in which he appeared to offer a bribe to persuade Ms. Lake to drop her 2024 Senate campaign.

In the recording, which was published by The Daily Mail, Jeff DeWit, the chairman, tells Ms. Lake that there are “very powerful people that want to keep you out” of the race, and suggests he is passing on a message from them. He says he had been told to ask her: “Is there any companies out there or something that could just put her on the payroll and give her — to keep her out?”

wing2000 · Jan 24, 2024

With "friends" like Kari.....

In a written statement, DeWit said Lake's team had threatened him with the potential release of a "new, more damaging recording" unless he resigned immediately.

"I am truly unsure of its contents, but considering our numerous past open conversations as friends, I have decided not to take the risk," he wrote. He added that he hopes she stops attacking him so he can return to the business world, "a field I find much more logical and prefer over politics."
...

DeWit said in his statement that while he said things he regrets, he now believes Lake set up him and was a "betrayal" of their friendship. The recording came from a private conversation they had a year ago while she worked for a company he owns. He doesn't say in the statement which company, but in a 2022 financial disclosure, Lake reported working as a communication adviser for FeedMe Inc. in 2021 and 2022. The company is an earlier iteration of Superfeed Technologies, a campaign-promoting app company for which DeWit serves as CEO.

"I believe she orchestrated this entire situation to have control over the state party, and it is obvious from the recording that she crafted her performance responses with the knowledge that she was recording it, intending to use this recording later to portray herself as a hero in her own story," he wrote. "I question how effective a United States Senator can be when they cannot be trusted to engage in private and confidential conversations."

'Betrayal': Arizona GOP Chair Jeff DeWit resigns after recording of 'offer' to Kari Lake

DeWit resigned as state GOP chair following the release of audio in which he offered Kari Lake a lucrative job if she quits her Senate race.

www.azcentral.com

NxNW · Jan 24, 2024

The pro-Trumpers and the never-Trumpers are taking off the gloves, it seems.

Hans Blaster · Jan 24, 2024

wing2000 said:
he recording came from a private conversation they had a year ago while she worked for a company he owns. He doesn't say in the statement which company, but in a 2022 financial disclosure, Lake reported working as a communication adviser for FeedMe Inc. in 2021 and 2022. The company is an earlier iteration of Superfeed Technologies, a campaign-promoting app company for which DeWit serves as CEO.

The chair of a state party owns a company involved in campaign technology? A little self-dealing never hurt anyone, eh?

(I want to know who these people offering millions of dollars for her to not run are.)

wing2000 · Jan 25, 2024

NxNW said:
The pro-Trumpers and the never-Trumpers are taking off the gloves, it seems.

Jeff DeWit "was the chief operating officer for Trump’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns and was the chief financial officer of NASA in the Trump administration. He took over the Arizona GOP in January 2023" so I would not consider him to be a "never-Trumper". The Arizona Republican party is broke (thanks to his MAGA predecessor) and I understand state Repulblicans hoped he woud broaden the party's appeal and improve the party's election record in Arizona. Afterall , the GOP has now lost key Congressional and Presidential races in 2018, 2020 and 2022.

NxNW · Jan 25, 2024

Hans Blaster said:
The chair of a state party owns a company involved in campaign technology? A little self-dealing never hurt anyone, eh?

(I want to know who these people offering millions of dollars for her to not run are.)

"Powerful people back East" would seem to indicate never-Trumpers in DC.

Handmaid for Jesus · Jan 25, 2024

NxNW said:
Arizona G.O.P. Chairman Resigns After Tape Suggests Attempt to Bribe Kari Lake

The chairman of Arizona’s Republican Party resigned abruptly on Wednesday, a day after the publication of a 10-minute recording of a conversation between himself and Kari Lake, a former nominee for governor, in which he appeared to offer a bribe to persuade Ms. Lake to drop her 2024 Senate campaign.

In the recording, which was published by The Daily Mail, Jeff DeWit, the chairman, tells Ms. Lake that there are “very powerful people that want to keep you out” of the race, and suggests he is passing on a message from them. He says he had been told to ask her: “Is there any companies out there or something that could just put her on the payroll and give her — to keep her out?”

Hmm.

Another crook revealed. :sigh:

Hans Blaster · Jan 25, 2024

Handmaid for Jesus said:
Hmm. Another crook revealed.

There are a near endless supply.

wing2000 · Jan 25, 2024

Handmaid for Jesus said:
Hmm. Another crook revealed.

One crook secretly recording another! Seriously though, it would be advisable for anyone to avoid any "private conversations" with Lake.

Tuur · Jan 25, 2024

Feeling cynical about this. Not the report, but politics in general. A particular name came to mind: Tom Pendergast. He wasn't the only one, of course, and that doesn't excuse what went on in Arizona. Just feeling cynical that it's all par for the political course.

Pommer · Jan 25, 2024

wing2000 said:
DeWit said in his statement that while he said things he regrets, he now believes Lake set up him and was a "betrayal" of their friendship.

Proposes illegal/unethical schemes…gets caught…plays the “victim card”.
Brass ones.

NxNW · Jan 25, 2024

Pommer said:
Proposes illegal/unethical schemes…gets caught…plays the “victim card”.
Brass ones.

Lake took out the messenger, but it does make you wonder who was sending the message.

Arizona GOP Chairman resigns after bribe attempt

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