In a significant development, Peggy Judd and Terry Thomas Crosby, members of the Cochise County, Arizona Election Board, have been indicted on charges related to their alleged efforts to subvert the certification of Arizona's 2022 midterm results. Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes announced the indictments on Wednesday, revealing that the Arizona grand jury had handed down the charges against Judd and Crosby on Monday.

The indictment accuses Judd and Crosby of conspiring to delay the canvass of votes cast in Cochise County during the November 2022 General Election. Additionally, they are alleged to have knowingly interfered with the Arizona Secretary of State's ability to complete the statewide canvass within the prescribed time period set by state law.

The actions of Judd and Crosby were aimed at flouting the deadline for certifying the results of the 2022 state midterm election in Cochise County. Such attempts posed a serious threat to the overall certification of the state's election results. Ultimately, the county board ratified the results just before the deadline, compelled to do so by a judge's order. While Judd complied with the court order, Crosby chose to skip the final vote entirely.

These charges against Judd and Crosby highlight a continued trend across the country, with state officials indicting Republican operatives who have allegedly sought to interfere with election results, especially in the aftermath of the highly contentious 2020 election. Sources with insider knowledge have previously indicated that Mayes' office is actively investigating the extent to which former President Donald Trump and his allies may have directly influenced efforts to subvert Arizona's 2020 election results. Earlier this year, Mayes initiated an investigation into Republican attempts to create a slate of counterfeit pro-Trump electors, which aimed to undermine the congressional certification of the Electoral College vote.

In response to the arrest of Judd and Crosby, Attorney General Mayes issued a statement condemning the repeated attempts to undermine democracy, stating, "the repeated attempts to undermine our democracy are unacceptable... I took an oath to uphold the rule of law, and my office will continue to enforce Arizona's elections laws and support our election officials as they carry out the duties and responsibilities of their offices."

The indictment and subsequent legal proceedings against Judd and Crosby emphasize the commitment of Arizona's authorities to ensure the integrity of the state's electoral process. As the case unfolds, it is expected to shed light on potential underlying issues in the county's election procedures and generate further discussions surrounding election integrity and the importance of upholding democratic principles.