Trump campaign's Arizona suit over in-person voting fizzles
Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)
NEW YORK — President Donald Trump's campaign is walking away from a lawsuit alleging widespread irregularities involving a green error button on voting machines in Arizona's biggest county — one day after state evidence presented at a hearing revealed only 191 ballots were affected.
The campaign's lawyer, Kory Langhofer, said in a court filing Friday in Phoenix that the number of ballots involved made the dispute irrelevant for the presidential race. Major media outlets have called Arizona for President-elect Joe Biden, who leads Trump by 11,034 votes in the state.
The Trump campaign and the Arizona Republican Party claimed that poll workers improperly directed Election Day voters to press a green button on tabulation machines that resulted in potentially thousands of ballots going uncounted because the voter accidentally selected two candidates for the same race. But the evidence didn't back that up.
Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)
The campaign claimed the potential for error amounted to discrimination against in-person as opposed to mail-in voters. It had been seeking a hand recount of the affected ballots. Trump voters who testified at a hearing Thursday said they didn't know for sure that their votes weren't counted. At least one said she became convinced after talking to a lawyer who prepared an affidavit for her to sign.
"All parties acknowledge that in-person voters, who were likely predominantly Trump voters, were disenfranchised by having their votes kicked out by the machines in Maricopa County, so for Democrats to celebrate that fact is shameful," campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said in a statement. "We continue to explore President Trump's options in Arizona."
The Republicans' complaint evolved out of an earlier, failed suit in which the campaign alleged voters were improperly directed to use Sharpie markers to fill in their ballots, supposedly resulting in the votes not being counted.
Counter-protesters clash with participants in the MAGA Million March For Trump outside the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Colin McCullough, 18, of Grapevine, Texas, wears a face mask with a hole in it during a Don't Steal the Vote rally in support of President Donald Trump in front of Dallas City Hall on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Juan Figueroa/Dallas Morning News/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Demonstrators during a Don't Steal the Vote rally in support of President Donald Trump in front of Dallas City Hall on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Juan Figueroa/Dallas Morning News/TNS)Demonstrators during a Don't Steal the Vote rally in support of President Donald Trump in front of Dallas City Hall on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Juan Figueroa/Dallas Morning News/TNS)Counter-protesters confront participants in the MAGA Million March For Trump outside the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)President Donald Trump delivers an update on Operation Warp Speed at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. (Chris Kleponis/Pool/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Participants in the MAGA Million March For Trump walk past the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Demonstrators during a Don't Steal the Vote rally in support of President Donald Trump in front of Dallas City Hall on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Juan Figueroa/Dallas Morning News/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Demonstrators hold flags during a Don't Steal the Vote rally in support of President Donald Trump in front of Dallas City Hall on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Juan Figueroa/Dallas Morning News/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Counter-protesters confront participants in the MAGA Million March For Trump outside the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Participants in the MAGA Million March For Trump rally outside the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Alex Jones of Infowars arrives to speak to participants in the MAGA Million March For Trump rally outside the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Demonstrators pray at a Don't Steal the Vote rally in support of President Donald Trump in front of Dallas City Hall on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Juan Figueroa/Dallas Morning News/TNS)Demonstrators during a Don't Steal the Vote rally in support of President Donald Trump in front of Dallas City Hall on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Juan Figueroa/Dallas Morning News/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Demonstrators during a Don't Steal the Vote rally in support of President Donald Trump in front of Dallas City Hall on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Juan Figueroa/Dallas Morning News/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Allen West, chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, speaks during a Don't Steal the Vote rally in support of President Donald Trump in front of Dallas City Hall on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Juan Figueroa/Dallas Morning News/TNS)A demonstrator in support of President Donald Trump holds a cut out of Trump's face during a Don't Steal the Vote rally in front of Dallas City Hall on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Juan Figueroa/Dallas Morning News/TNS)Members of the far-right group Proud Boys rally outside the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Participants in the MAGA Million March For Trump walk past the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Members of the far-right group Proud Boys rally outside the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Police officers hold a participant in the MAGA Million March For Trump after his clash with counter-protesters outside the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Counter-protesters confront participants in the MAGA Million March For Trump outside the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Participants in the MAGA Million March For Trump rally outside the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Counter-protesters confront participants in the MAGA Million March For Trump outside the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Susan Christenson of Plano, Texas, holds a ''Legal Votes Matter'' sign during a Don't Steal the Vote rally in support of President Donald Trump in front of Dallas City Hall on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Juan Figueroa/Dallas Morning News/TNS)Demonstrators in support of President Donald Trump march by someone holding a Black Lives Matter sign during a Don't Steal the Vote rally in downtown Dallas on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Juan Figueroa/Dallas Morning News/TNS)Demonstrators in support of President Donald Trump march by someone putting his thumb down during a Don't Steal the Vote rally in downtown Dallas on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Juan Figueroa/Dallas Morning News/TNS)Demonstrators during a Don't Steal the Vote rally in support of President Donald Trump in front of Dallas City Hall on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Juan Figueroa/Dallas Morning News/TNS)Counter-protesters confront participants in the MAGA Million March For Trump outside the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Participants in the MAGA Million March For Trump watch counter-protesters in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Counter-protesters confront participants in the MAGA Million March For Trump outside the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Demonstrators pray at a Don't Steal the Vote rally in support of President Donald Trump in front of Dallas City Hall on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Juan Figueroa/Dallas Morning News/TNS)Counter-protesters confront participants in the MAGA Million March For Trump outside the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Allen West, chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, speaks during a Don't Steal the Vote rally in support of President Donald Trump in front of Dallas City Hall on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Juan Figueroa/Dallas Morning News/TNS)Dana Loesch speaks during a Don't Steal the Vote rally in support of President Donald Trump in front of Dallas City Hall on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Juan Figueroa/Dallas Morning News/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Demonstrators march in support of President Donald Trump during a Don't Steal the Vote rally in downtown Dallas on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Juan Figueroa/Dallas Morning News/TNS)Members of the far-right group Proud Boys rally outside the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)Thousands of supporters participate in the MAGA Million March For Trump at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)
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