In a move that has raised eyebrows among conservative circles, Democrat Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has been found to be in collaboration with the States United Democracy Center, a group with a liberal leaning.
Critics have described this alliance as a calculated attempt to target former President Donald Trump. The partnership, which began in 2023, was ostensibly formed to strategize on "election integrity." However, it soon evolved into providing counsel on prosecuting supporters of Trumps 2020 campaign.
According to RedState, a letter dated May 4, 2023, from Christine Sun, senior vice president of States United, to Dan Barr, Chief Deputy Attorney General, confirmed that their services would be offered pro bono. Sun wrote, "Our work will be provided pro bono. We are pleased to have this opportunity to be of service and to work with you."
On May 15 of the same year, Barr entered into an agreement with States United. The contract outlined the group's role in assisting the Attorney Generals office in developing legal strategies to ensure secure elections. It demanded full cooperation from Mayes office and granted the group the authority to dispose of certain internal materials at their discretion.
The agreement stated that relevant communications, internal administrative material, and research notes other than those with you or opposing counsel could be destroyed in our sole discretion and consistent with our document preservation policies.
On July 27, 2023, States United issued a memo suggesting legal actions against Trump supporters. The memo proposed that the creation of alternate slates of electors could be construed as criminal, labeling such actions as "a deliberate attempt to undermine legitimate election outcomes" and recommending charges such as conspiracy, forgery, and fraud. These recommendations were later echoed in an April indictment against 18 Trump supporters, including Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows.
States United also recommended further investigations into Trump, Giuliani, Meadows, lawyer John Eastman, then-RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel, and election integrity advocate Cleta Mitchell, citing potential legal issues. The recommendation stated, "The coordinated efforts to subvert the 2020 election results require thorough examination and accountability."
The groups memo named at least six individuals under direct scrutiny, providing a detailed framework for potential charges. States United has a history of influencing election-related policies and legal actions, often under the banner of promoting democracy.
Norm Eisen, a key adviser to States United Democracy Center and a well-known advocate for progressive election strategies, is a significant figure in this effort. Eisen co-authored "The Democracy Playbook: Preventing and Reversing Democratic Backsliding," a guide that outlines strategies often associated with "color revolution" tactics.
Color revolutions are typically perceived as externally orchestrated efforts aimed at destabilizing sovereign governments under the pretense of promoting democracy. These movements employ non-military means to effect regime change and align target nations with the strategic interests of external powers.
Eisen's history of promoting legal and political maneuvers aimed at challenging political opponents and reshaping electoral systems has been a source of controversy.
The involvement of the States United Democracy Center in Arizona's legal strategies is part of a broader pattern of coordination to weaponize legal systems against political opponents. The attempts to prosecute Trump and his allies under the guise of ensuring "election integrity" illustrate the erosion of impartial justice and the normalization of using lawfare as a political weapon in America. This is a worrying trend that must be curtailed.
Login