The Arizona Republic Seeks Access to Audit Records

The Arizona Republic has reported it has gone to court to demand records from the state Senate and one of its contractors to shed light on the audit of 2020 election results. The news organization filed a special action in Maricopa County Superior Court seeking financial records and communications about the audit from the Senate and Cyber Ninjas, the contractor it hired to lead the work. The legal complaint was prompted after the Republic had requested the information through the Arizona Public Records Law but was denied access. The complaint argues that documents related to the audit are public records because the audit is being conducted under the direction of the Senate (a public body), and the Senate is required to make available records that are in the custody or control of Cyber Ninjas. The Republic’s complaint seeks to have a judge set a deadline for the Senate and Cyber Ninjas’ communications to be provided to the newspaper. It also asks for legal fees, arguing that the records were unlawfully withheld from the news organization in violation of the state public records law.