TL/DR –
Austin Smith, a top leader of the conservative group Turning Point Action, resigned and ended his reelection campaign after being accused of forging voter signatures on official paperwork for his candidacy in the Arizona House. The accusation, made by a Democratic activist, claims that Smith submitted petition sheets with voter names, addresses and signatures that closely resemble Smith’s handwriting. The complaint was forwarded to the Arizona attorney general for review, however, state election officials do not assess the veracity of allegations made against candidates.
Allegations of Forged Signatures Causes Turning Point Action Leader to Resign
A top leader from Turning Point Action, a national conservative group known for supporting former President Donald Trump‘s false election fraud claims, resigned following accusations of forging voter signatures on official documents. State Rep. Austin Smith, who aimed to run for reelection to the Arizona House, submitted his resignation after a Democratic activist accused him of circulating petition sheets with forged voter signatures.
Arizona Election Officials Forward Complaint to Attorney General
The claim against Smith was sent to the Arizona secretary of state, who then forwarded it to the Arizona attorney general. However, state election officials don’t evaluate the truth of allegations against candidates. The state prosecutor’s office, which investigates voter and election fraud claims, did not comment on the matter.
Smith Ends Reelection Campaign Amid Controversy
Smith confirmed the end of his reelection campaign and his resignation from Turning Point Action. He refrained from commenting on the allegations but referred to them as part of a “coordinated attack” by Democrats.
Smith’s Role in Turning Point Action and Previous Controversial Remarks
Smith, a member of the conservative “Freedom Caucus” in the Arizona House, has previously criticized local election officials’ signature-verification work. During his tenure at Turning Point Action, he supported conservatives spreading false information about elections. A tweet from a rally in Washington on Jan. 5, 2021, saw Smith telling his followers to “fight like hell.”
Decision to Drop Out of the Race Amid Allegations
Smith attributed his decision to drop out of the race to the potential public and financial consequences of the allegations. He shared his future intention to rely solely on the online signature system to prevent similar allegations in any future campaigns.
Repercussions and Reactions to the Allegations
The complaint against Smith alleges that he submitted multiple pages with dozens of forged signatures. His resignation sparked reactions from his party members, some of whom have received death threats for upholding voter outcomes during the 2020 and 2022 elections.
Calls for Smith’s Resignation from Office
Maricopa County Supervisor Clint Hickman, who rejected Trump’s attempts to speak to him after narrowly losing the 2020 election, labelled Smith a hypocrite. Hickman, a recipient of death threats and harassment, urged Smith to resign from office, accusing him of lying about the election operations and the signatures he collected.
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