Judge Halts Arizona Audit

The Associated Press had more on the story: 

An Arizona judge on Friday temporarily halted an audit of the 2020 election results from Maricopa County as long as Democrats put up a $1 million bond to fund any potential increase in costs.

The audit including a hand recount of 2.1 million ballots is being conducted on behalf of Republicans in the state Senate, who have hired Cyber Ninjas, a cybersecurity firm with no election experience owned by a man who shared unfounded allegations of election fraud on his since-deleted Twitter account.

Democrats who sued to block the review did not immediately say whether they’d put up the money. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Christopher Coury said all auditing activities should be stopped between 5 p.m. Friday and noon Monday, saying he wants to know safeguards are in place before deciding next week whether the auditors are operating legally.

A lawyer for the Senate, Kory Langhofer, had asked that any halt be delayed so he could immediately appeal.

Forbes reported: 

The recount is being overseen by Doug Logan, CEO of the Florida-based company Cyber Ninjas, which was chosen by the Republican-led Senate to lead the audit.

Logan is also known for making the absurd claim a company tied to long-dead Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez somehow rigged voting machines as part of a conspiracy against former President Donald Trump.

The recount pause will go into effect at 5 p.m. local time and be effective until noon on Monday if Democrats pay the $1 million bond, which will be held to reimburse the Senate for any wrongful expenses due to the pause.