PHOENIX - Cochise County Supervisors Peggy Judd and Terry Thomas "Tom" Crosby, both Republicans, have been indicted by a state grand jury for allegedly failing to formally accept the results of the 2022 midterm election by the deadline. The indictments were announced by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) on Wednesday.

Judd and Crosby are facing charges of interference with an election officer and conspiracy. The indictment alleges that the two officials conspired to delay the canvass of their county's votes, causing chaos that could have undermined the projected victories of Republicans in a U.S. House seat and the statewide race for schools superintendent. Eventually, the Cochise County board certified the election results under a court order.

While Judd did not provide a comment, Crosby's attorney, Dennis Wilenchik, issued a statement stating that the indictment was "the product of nothing but political partisanship." Wilenchik intends to vigorously defend his client, emphasizing that the alleged conspiracy lacked any basis.

These indictments are a significant development in Arizona, where election-related conspiracy theories have thrived since former President Donald Trump's loss in the state in 2020. Concerns about delegitimizing election outcomes and procedures have persisted among county officials, state lawmakers, and GOP candidates. The potential for any efforts to delay or undermine the 2024 presidential election outcome is a matter of deep public concern.

Mayes's office has been investigating the actions of Judd and Crosby since at least the summer. The indictment, filed on Monday in Maricopa County Superior Court, alleges that between October 11, 2022, and December 1, 2022, the two officials conspired to delay the canvass of their county's votes from the November general election. According to the indictment, they knowingly interfered with the secretary of state's ability to complete the statewide canvass within the required time frame by delaying the formal acceptance of the county's votes, as mandated by state law.

A Superior Court judge, Casey F. McGinley, eventually ordered the Cochise County Board of Supervisors to certify the election results. Although one of the supervisors, Crosby, was absent during the meeting, Judd and the remaining supervisor, Ann English, a Democrat, voted to certify the results, complying with the court order.

Dennis Wilenchik argued that the claim of interference against the supervisors is "problematic" and "kind of nonsensical" since the secretary of state met the legal deadline to certify the state's election results. However, legal experts see these indictments as a test of the obligations placed on elected officials in Arizona, a politically competitive state.

"The repeated attempts to undermine our democracy are unacceptable," Mayes stated while announcing the indictments. "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 consequences of these indictments could have far-reaching implications, as they serve as a warning to other county officials who may consider similar actions in the future. Tim Eckstein, an Arizona criminal defense lawyer experienced in election-related cases, believes that discouraging similar behavior is one of the motivations behind these indictments.

As Arizona prepares for future elections, authorities are steadfast in their commitment to upholding the integrity of the democratic process and ensuring that election outcomes are transparent and legitimate.