¶ Overview
In 2026, Petersen responded to a subpoena from the Department of Justice seeking documents in an investigation of the 2020 election in Maricopa County, which potentially contained confidential voter information. When Attorney General Kris Mayes sought more information on what was included in the documents, Petersen accused her of “obstruction of justice” and interfering with the investigation.
In 2020, Petersen associated with election deniers and helped lead an “audit” into Maricopa County elections with a team of inexperienced conspiracy theorists tied to the “Stop The Steal” movement. The team included lead auditor Doug Logan, who wrote a report on “election fraud facts” and worked with a pro-Trump lawyer to challenge the election results, and a lawyer, Stefanie Lambert, who was involved in a lawsuit challenging the results of the election known as “The Kraken.” Petersen was also allegedly aware of a controversial member of the “audit” team described as an “eccentric treasure hunter/inventor,” but wanted to keep the individual’s name out of the final report.
¶ Petersen Sent Maricopa County Election Records To The Department Of Justice For A “Criminal Investigation” Of The 2020 Election
¶ 2026: Petersen Sent Documents That Potentially Contained Confidential Voter Information To The Department Of Justice For A “Criminal Investigation” Of The 2020 Election
¶ Petersen Responded To A Subpoena From The Department Of Justice Seeking Documents For A “Criminal Investigation” Of The 2020 Election
2026: Petersen Responded To A Subpoena From The Department Of Justice Seeking Documents For A “Criminal Investigation” Of The 2020 Election, Which Included Voter Roll Data The Trump Administration Was Sharing With The Department Of Homeland Security. According to the Arizona Mirror, “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona sent a subpoena to Petersen in March seeking documents as part of a ‘criminal investigation’ of the 2020 election. […] A key point of contention in the matter is voter roll data, which the Trump administration has been seeking from states, and which Fontes has refused to provide. Arizona is one of several states that is fighting against providing certain voter data with the DOJ which has been collecting the data despite concerns from privacy advocates, even within its own ranks. The Trump administration has sued Arizona and other states to get that voter data, which it recently conceded it was sharing with the Department of Homeland Security to scour for alleged noncitizens — something the DOJ had previously said it did not plan to do.” [Arizona Mirror, 4/7/26]
¶ Petersen Accused Mayes Of “Obstruction Of Justice” And Interfering With The Investigation When She Asked What The Documents Contained
¶ When Mayes Asked If The Documents Petersen Handed Over Included Confidential Voter Information, Petersen Accused Her Of “Obstruction Of Justice And Tampering With A Witness”
Petersen Referred Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes And Secretary Of State Adrian Fontes To The Department Of Justice “For Obstruction Of Justice And Tampering With A Witness” And Said They Were Resisting “An Election Integrity Investigation.” According to the Arizona Mirror, “Senate President Warren Petersen is asking the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate Attorney General Kris Mayes and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes after they asked for more details around a subpoena he received last month for records from the legislative chamber’s partisan review of the 2020 election. [...] On Tuesday, Petersen took to the social media site X to say that he had referred Mayes and Fontes, whose office she was representing, to the Department of Justice. ‘Today I referred Kris Mayes and Adrian Fontes to the Department of Justice for obstruction of justice and tampering with a witness,’ Petersen said. ‘It is disturbing to see their resistance to an election integrity investigation.’” [Arizona Mirror, 4/7/26]
- Mayes Sent A Letter To Petersen Asking If The Documents He Handed Over Including Voter Information That Was “Not Generally Available For Public Inspection.” According to the Arizona Mirror, “Shortly after, Mayes sent a letter to Petersen asking if the information handed over included Maricopa County voter registration records that would have included participants in the state’s address confidentiality program and other voter information that is ‘not generally available for public inspection.’ She requested a reply by April 6.” [Arizona Mirror, 4/7/26]
¶ Petersen Said Mayes’ Concern For Violating Voter Privacy Law Was Interfering With The Investigation
Petersen Accused Attorney General Mayes Of Interfering With Investigations In The 2020 Election Results Because She Refused To Release Records To The FBI, Arguing “Releasing Certain Voter Data Would Violate Privacy Laws.” According to KOLD (CBS), “Petersen wants the Department of Justice to investigate Mayes. He's accusing her of interfering with the latest investigation into the 2020 election results. The FBI summoned the state last month for records related to the 2020 election. Petersen says Mayes obstructed the efforts by telling county election staff releasing certain voter data would violate privacy laws. Republicans at the county and state levels managed the 2020 elections. All audits, recounts and reviews determined it was safe and secure. AG Mayes fired back, calling Senator Petersen an election denier who's trying to curry favor with the White House. She accuses him of laying the groundwork for the Trump administration to deny the results of the midterm if they don't go in his favor.” [KOLD (CBS), 4/8/26] (VIDEO)
¶ Petersen Associated With Election Deniers And Was Involved In A Controversial Audit Into The Maricopa County Election
¶ Petersen Met With Rudy Giuliani And Called For “A Full Investigation Of The Maricopa County Election”
2020: Petersen Met With Rudy Giuliani And Called For “A Full Investigation Of The Maricopa County Election” After “Allegations That The Dominion Equipment And Software Is Not Secure.” According to Petersen’s Facebook, “Had a great discussion today with Rudy Gulianni about Election Integrity. We need to do a full investigation of the Maricopa County election. Particularly concerning are the allegations that the Dominion Equipment and Software is not secure. I expect Trump to sue now that the vote has been certified by the Secretary of State. I support using our subpoena power to help investigate any allegations of fraud.”
[Facebook, Warren Petersen for Attorney General, 12/1/20]
¶ Petersen Led Efforts To Conduct An “Audit” Of The Maricopa County Elections With A Team Of Election Deniers And Conspiracy Theorists
¶ Petersen Helped Lead An “Audit” That Claimed To Find Evidence Of Election Fraud In Maricopa County
2021: Petersen Led Efforts To Conduct An “Audit” On The Maricopa County Elections That Reported “A Plethora Of Unsubstantiated Allegations That Files Were Deleted, Equipment Was Improperly Connected To The Internet, Signatures Weren’t Properly Verified And Ineligible Voters May Have Cast Ballots.” According to the Arizona Mirror, “The long-awaited and repeatedly delayed report of the Senate’s purported ‘audit’ of the election in Maricopa County featured a plethora of unsubstantiated allegations that files were deleted, equipment was improperly connected to the internet, signatures weren’t properly verified and ineligible voters may have cast ballots. […] Lead auditor Doug Logan, head of the Florida-based firm Cyber Ninjas, presented the audit’s findings along with former Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen, CyFir CEO Ben Cotton, former Secretary of State Ken Bennett and Shiva Ayyadurai, an engineer and promoter of conspiracy theories, during a three-hour presentation at the Senate on Friday afternoon. Some of the alleged findings were included in draft reports that were widely circulated Thursday evening, while the ‘audit’ team aired other claims publicly for the first time as they made their presentations to Senate President Karen Fann and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Warren Petersen.” [Arizona Mirror, 9/24/21]
¶ Petersen Reportedly “Received Briefings About All Of The Audit’s Proceedings”
Records Showed Petersen Had “Received Briefings About All Of The Audit’s Proceedings.” According to the Arizona Republic, “Many of the Republican lawmakers involved in the ballot review are now serving in the Legislature after the November election. The newly released documents show a deeper level of involvement for some of them than previously known. While Fann is no longer in office, Petersen, who appears to have received briefings about all of the audit’s proceedings, is now the Senate president.” [Arizona Republic, 1/27/23]
¶ The “Audit” Team Was Inexperienced With Elections And Uneducated On “Common Election Policies And Procedures”
The Arizona “Audit” Team “Lacked Experience In Election Matters” And Did Not Understand “Common Election Policies And Procedures.” According to the Arizona Mirror, “A common refrain was that there may be innocuous explanations for many of the potential problems they found, but the election review leaders don’t know for certain. The ‘audit’ team members lacked experience in election matters, often exhibiting a lack of understanding about common election policies and procedures throughout the past six months.” [Arizona Mirror, 9/24/21]
¶ Lead Auditor Doug Logan Expressed Needing To “Read Through The Arizona Election Laws” Shortly Before The “Audit” Began
Lead Auditor Doug Logan Said It Was “On My List To Read Through The Arizona Election Laws” Shortly Before The “Audit” Began. According to the Arizona Republic, “Several messages indicate what experts have suggested regarding Cyber Ninjas, Wake Technologies, StratTech and others involved: They did not know much about elections, ballots or what they were looking for. On March 21, 2021, as he was finalizing his agreement to work for the Arizona Senate, Logan had a conversation with Wake TSI executive Gene Kern. They shared an article from Phoenix's National Public Radio station, KJZZ, explaining how candidates’ names are ordered on ballots. ‘It’s on my list to read through the Arizona election laws,’ Logan wrote. ‘I guess I should move that up on the list.’ Kern replied: ‘Yep. I hate reading law.’” [Arizona Republic, 1/27/23]
¶ The Audit Team Included Election Deniers And Conspiracy Theorists, One Of Which Petersen Allegedly Knew About And Wanted To Hide Their Involvement
¶ Petersen Allegedly Knew “Eccentric Treasure Hunter/Inventor Jovan Pulitzer” Was Working On The 2020 Elections Audit But Wanted Pulitzer’s Name Kept Out Of The Report
Petersen Allegedly Knew “Eccentric Treasure Hunter/Inventor Jovan Pulitzer” Was Working On The 2020 Elections Audit But Wanted Pulitzer’s Name Kept Out Of The Report. According to the Arizona Republic, “When Senate Republicans announced the contractors that would work on the ballot review in March 2021, they didn’t mention the eccentric treasure hunter/inventor Jovan Pulitzer. The new documents reveal Pulitzer was fully engaged with Logan throughout the year. He and Logan messaged continuously from March through the end of 2021. […] During the actual review work, officials only would say that Pulitzer was consulted. Later, emails disclosed through The Republic’s lawsuit revealed Pulitzer was in fact involved in the work. More documents released after continued court action showed Logan paid Pulitzer's company called 423 Catkins Maize $210,000 for work photographing ballots. Logan declined to comment recently when asked if he felt this was dishonest. Pulitzer also declined to comment for this article. And the latest messages show that at least some Senate Republicans, including Fann and Warren Petersen, knew he was working with Logan and wanted to keep his name off of the report.” [Arizona Republic, 1/27/23]
¶ Members Of The “Audit” Team Were Involved In Writing Reports Alleging 2020 Election Fraud Throughout The Country And Promoting Election Fraud Conspiracies
Lead Auditor Doug Logan Authored An “Election Fraud Facts” Report For Republican Senators, Worked With Pro-Trump Lawyer Lin Wood To Challenge The Election Results, And Promoted Election Fraud Conspiracies On Twitter. According to the Arizona Mirror, “When Fann announced her audit team in March, it quickly became apparent that its members had no relevant election experience and were committed supporters of the conspiracy theories that the election was stolen from Trump. Fann told Capitol Media Services, ‘You can’t tell me they’ve been involved in conspiracy theories.’ But Logan’s advocacy of conspiracy theories became quickly apparent as the Arizona Mirror uncovered Logan’s deleted Twitter account, which he used to promote false claims about election fraud — including in Arizona. But Logan was far more than just a keyboard warrior: He’d taken an active role in the #StopTheSteal movement and was working directly to overturn the election. For example, Logan had authored an ‘election fraud facts’ report for U.S. senators who were planning to object to the Electoral College results on Jan. 6, which included a number of baseless and debunked claims, including the discredited allegation that Dominion Voting Systems, the vendor that provides Maricopa County’s ballot tabulation machines, has ties to the socialist regime in Venezuela. And Logan worked with pro-Trump lawyer Lin Wood on his efforts to challenge the election results, The Daily Beast reported. And text messages obtained by the Arizona Republic indicated that Logan had a role in crafting the subpoenas that Fann and Petersen issued to the county in December.” [Arizona Mirror, 9/24/21]
One Of The “Audit” Team’s Firms, CyFIR, Was Involved In A Report Alleging Election Fraud And Irregularities In Michigan. According to the Arizona Mirror, “Other members of the ‘audit’ team had similarly problematic ties to the #StopTheSteal movement. CyFIR and Logan had both been involved in a widely discredited report alleging fraud and irregularities in Antrim County, Mich. The lead contractor on the report was Russell Ramsland of Allied Security Operations Group, Fann’s first choice to lead the ‘audit.’” [Arizona Mirror, 9/24/21]
Engineer And Conspiracy Theorist Shiva Ayyadurai Claimed Several Thousand Ballots “Either Lack Signatures Or Had Signatures That Were Only ‘Scribbles,’ But Ayyadurai Did Not Have Access To The Voters’ Signatures Used To Verify The Ballots. According to the Arizona Mirror, “Shiva Ayyadurai, an engineer and promoter of conspiracy theories, [...] The first presentation was made by Ayyadurai, a conspiracy theorist known to fans as Dr. Shiva, who outlined his alleged findings regarding voter signatures on ballot envelopes. Ayyadurai claimed he found several thousand early ballots that shouldn’t have been approved and verified by election workers because they either lacked signatures or had signatures that were only ‘scribbles’ and couldn’t be verified. Ayyadurai and the ‘audit’ team did not have any of the voters’ signatures that election officials used to verify the early ballots.” [Arizona Mirror, 9/24/21]
¶ “Audit” Team Members Were Connected To Former Trump Lawyer Sidney Powell, Who Led A Lawsuit Nicknamed “The Kraken” To Overturn The Election Results In Michigan
Trump Campaign Lawyer Sidney Powell Hired Wake Technology Services To Conduct An Audit Of Election Results In Fulton County, Pennsylvania Before They Worked On The Arizona “Audit.” According to the Arizona Mirror, “Wake Technology Services, Inc., which originally led the hand count portion of Fann’s audit, appeared to be the only member of the team with something resembling experience in elections-related work, having conducted a hand count and audit of election results in Fulton County, Penn. But it turned out that Fulton allowed the audit at the request of a leading #StopTheSteal advocate in the Pennsylvania Senate and that Wake was hired by a nonprofit group led by Sidney Powell, the former Trump campaign lawyer behind the disastrous ‘kraken’ lawsuits against election results in Arizona and other swing states won by Biden.” [Arizona Mirror, 9/24/21]
Logan Communicated Extensively With Stefanie Lambert, One Of The Lawyers Involved In A Failed Lawsuit Attempting To Overturn The Election Results In Michigan Nicknamed “The Kraken.” According to the Arizona Republic, “The new documents also show Logan communicated extensively with Stefanie Lambert, a controversial lawyer who could lose her license to practice law in Michigan because of her participation in a meritless election case. Her involvement in Arizona was previously unknown. [...] Lambert was among nine lawyers, including Sidney Powell, involved in a failed lawsuit attempting to overturn Michigan’s 2020 election. The case was nicknamed ‘The Kraken’ as a reference to a 1980s film in which a large sea monster is unleashed upon a city.” [Arizona Republic, 1/27/23]