Reasonable Inference
The U.S. Department of Justice, through its Deputy Assistant Attorney General, transmitted a letter to Arizona Senate Majority Leader Karen Fann explicitly attempting to halt the Arizona Senate’s legislatively authorized forensic audit of Maricopa County election systems. This federal intrusion into a state legislative oversight function – using DOJ letterhead and implying federal legal consequences – exerted significant extra-legal pressure on the legal counsel advising the Senate and on the audit contractors, creating a chilling effect on attorneys engaged in election oversight work.
Citations
Letter to Arizona Senate President: https://www.justice.gov/d9/case-documents/attachments/2021/05/05/civil_rights_division_letter_to_arizona_senate_president_5-5_final_ro_tag_prop.pdf | U.S. Department of Justice
DOJ Intervention in Maricopa County Audit Lacks Constitutional Authority: Experts: https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/doj-intervention-in-maricopa-county-audit-lacks-constitutional-authority-experts-3820537 | The Epoch Times
DOJ Expresses Concern Arizona Audit Is Violating Election Law: https://dailycaller.com/2021/05/06/department-of-justice-arizona-donald-trump/ | Daily Caller