by Matthew Holloway | Jun 12, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Democrat Attorney General Kris Mayes announced on Tuesday the indictment of former Arizona State Representative Austin Smith (R-LD29) by an Arizona Grand Jury on 14 counts related to alleged fraudulent candidate signatures. According to the indictment, Smith faces both felony and misdemeanor counts.
The west valley Republican and former senior director of Turning Point Action served his first term in the Arizona House of Representatives from 2022-24 before withdrawing from the 2024 election when a legal challenge against his petition was filed. He also resigned from Turning Point Action at that time.
According to Votebeat’s Jen Fifield, Smith was still listed on Turning Point Action’s website as a director until Tuesday morning, listing the role on his X profile and now-deleted LinkedIn profile as well.
In a press release, Mayes said, “The defendant has been charged with multiple felonies and misdemeanors, including deceiving the Secretary of State’s office with petitions containing forged elector signatures and signing names other than his own to the nominating petition.”
He is charged with one count of Fraudulent Schemes and Practices, a Class 5 Felony, three counts of Presentment of False Instrument for Filing, Class 6 Felonies, and ten counts of Illegal Signing of Election Petitions, Class 1 Misdemeanors. Under ARS 13-702 and 13-802, Smith could face a maximum of 5.5 years in prison if found guilty on all four felony counts, and a fine of up to $2,500 per count for the ten misdemeanors totaling $25,000.
In a two-page statement posted to X, Smith described the allegations against him as being “alleged by two Democrat activists who were officers in the District 29 Democratic organization.” He added, “It seemed ludicrous because Republicans trying to get on the ballot don’t seek Democrat signatures and would have no reason to forge Democrat signatures, since they don’t count.”
He also characterized the allegations as a “coordinated attack,” that “included press releases and social media activity and other things that made it clear that this was a well-organized effort.”
He also made it clear at the time that he expected an indictment to come, writing, “This was a very intense effort to ‘get me’ and I needed to be prepared to spend tens of thousands of dollars to defend myself, not only against the civil elections matter, but most likely against some sort of criminal investigation that would be launched by those on the left who are unhappy with my politics.”
After Smith dropped out of the 2024 election, the lawsuit against him did not move forward according to Votebeat.
However, an investigation launched by Mayes against one of her most vocal critics in the Arizona legislature, resulted in the June 2nd indictment just over a year later.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Daniel Stefanski | Mar 31, 2023 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
After days of anticipation, a former American president was indicted by a New York City grand jury, sparking great outrage by Arizona Republicans.
Former President Donald J. Trump, according to reports, was indicted by a New York City grand jury on Thursday. The indictment came days after Trump posted a warning to his Truth Social account that he would soon be arrested despite “no crime being able to be proven and based on an old and fully debunked fairytale.”
The news created a firestorm across the nation – on both sides of the aisle. Arizona, home to some of the most ardent supporters of the former president – was no exception, as lawmakers and party leaders expressed their thoughts on the historic and unprecedented action by a prosecutor against a former leader of the free world and current frontrunner for President of the United States.
Kari Lake, the 2022 Republican nominee for Arizona Governor, released a statement condemning the indictment, writing: “This is a dark moment in the history of our nation. The radical left and their weaponized criminal justice system have crossed all legal and ethical lines in an attempt to destroy President Donald J. Trump. Jailing your political opponents based on politically-motivated grievances is something you’d expect to see out of third-world dictatorships or banana republics. But now, after a years-long assault on our Constitution, the radical left has accelerated this country’s descent into a broken system that allows for the political persecution of ANYONE who threatens the status quo.”
Representative Austin Smith tweeted, “I stand with President Trump.”
Smith later added, “The American left has fully embraced Bolshevism now with no apologies There is no going back from this.”
Representative John Gillette stated, “This has already been to trial. Stormy lost and had to pay Trump $300,000, her lawyer, Avanati was convicted and sent to prison for fraud. The Democrat machine and the Soros funded AG, used his office for politics. He just assured that Trump supporters will come out strongly!
Representative Alex Kolodin challenged his colleagues to use the breaking news to push legislation that would hinder these prosecutorial actions, saying, “Reminder, my fellow Freedom Caucus members and I are running a bill to prohibit political prosecutions – the time is now!”
Kolodin’s pitch to fellow legislators attracted the attention of Senator Justine Wadsack, who endorsed his comments” “I’m proud to work with @realAlexKolodin on our bill #SB1418 that passed out of the Senate and House Government committee. The timing for the need of such a bill is ironic with the indictment of Donald Trump.”
Senator Jake Hoffman, the Chairman of the Arizona Freedom Caucus, said, “The indictment of President Trump by this Soros-backed prosecutor is the most disgusting weaponization of the justice system in our nation’s history.”
Senator Anthony Kern tweeted, “I stand with the best America First President @realDonaldTrump!
Representative Rachel Jones wrote, “President Trump once said, ‘They’re not after me. They’re after you. I’m just in the way.’ I stand with this man!”
Senator Wendy Rogers, one of Trump’s top allies in the state, echoed what many of her colleagues had been releasing throughout the day, tweeting, “We stand with @realDonaldTrump.”
The Arizona Senate Democrats Caucus appeared to mock Republicans standing with the former President – specifically Representative Smith, tweeting, “ *makes note* Arizona Freedom Caucus is standing with the President who paid hush money to a porn star while married.”
Smith had the last word with this exchange, firing back: “ *makes note* Arizona Senate Democrats ok with third world country tactics”
The Arizona Senate Democrats Caucus unsurprisingly had a different perspective on the day’s events, stating, “Big list of ‘firsts’ from Donald Trump: – First President to face criminal charges. – First President to lead an insurrection on our Capitol (joined by a current Arizona Republican State Senator). – First President that led an active charge to overturn our elections.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
