The Arizona GOP chairman resigned Wednesday after a tape of his proposal was leaked Lake KariA top Trump ally and Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Arizona, lucrative job opportunities to take a two-year hiatus from politics.
“He should resign. We can’t have a man who is corrupt and has compromised the Republican Party,” Lake told NBC News on Tuesday, citing the state chairman. Jeff DeWitt.
Posted by DeWitt Letter over X he said he was resigning “but as he demanded”, but also claimed that his people had threatened to release another incriminating tape if he did not comply.
“This morning I was determined to fight for my position. However, a few hours ago I received an ultimatum from Lake’s team: resign or a new, more damaging recording will be released,” his letter read. “I’m not really sure of its content, but given our many open conversations in the past as friends, I’ve decided not to risk it. I’m resigning as requested by Laken,” he said.
Lake counselors Caroline Wren and Garrett Ventry a statement At X, “the tape speaks for itself” and “no one from the Lake Curry campaign threatened or blackmailed DeWit.”
On Wednesday night, Lake spoke about the content of the recording, which he described as self-reported “bribery scandal,“ on the Rumble social media platform.
“They can’t stop us and they know it,” Lake said. “And that’s why they are trying to bribe me away from politics.”
He also criticized DeWit’s resignation letter, saying he “did a terrible job.”
“He tried to act like the behavior you hear on the audio is normal communication between friends — it’s disgusting,” Lake said.
In the audio of a March 2023 conversation between DeWit and Lake posted online “There are very powerful people who want to keep you out,” the chair can be heard telling Lake by conservative Arizona talk show host Garrett Lewis.
“They’re willing to put their money where their mouth is in a very big way,” DeWit said, calling it an “incredible opportunity.”
“They” are never defined other than “the people of the east.” Lake said, “It’s crazy. They have to want me. I’m a great candidate, people love me.”
DeWit declined to identify the “very powerful people” to NBC News on Wednesday, but said the proposal “has something to do with being a drag on the ticket. There are people who want to make sure we win the election, and that’s it. Nobody’s going to cross that finish line.” he doesn’t believe he can, especially with independents.”
The conversation between Lake and DeWit came months after Lake’s endorsement for chairman lost 2022 the governor’s race to Democrat Katie Hobbs. 2020 presidency election denierLake claimed victory in the gubernatorial election and sued cancel the results. It was a suit was fired in May last year.
DeWit is a former Arizona state treasurer who ran Trump’s Arizona campaign in 2016. chief operating officer From the 2020 campaign.
In a conversation with Lake, DeWit can be heard saying unidentified individuals “want you out for two years…they want you on the team.”
“I’m not going to let these people in DC tell me not to run,” Lake tells him.
DeWit then asks, “Is there a number that…” “Can I be bought?” the lake asks. “No.”
He told DeWit that “it’s about letting Trump out. It’s about letting DeSantis in” and “I’m with Trump.”
DeWit forced him to name at least one price.
“Actually, I’d like you to make me a big counteroffer. Give me a counter,” he said.
“I cannot be bought,” he replied.
In his letter, DeWit said Lake released a “selected edited audio recording of our private conversation” that he made while working for DeWit’s company. “I truly believed I was offering a useful perspective to someone I considered a friend,” he said.
DeWit said Lake has made it a “mission to destroy me” since a conversation in which he advised his Senate campaign to stop focusing on another candidate for governor. Officially a lake announced the campaign for the Senate in October.
It turned out that he was referring to the conversation of the lake Notes to CPAC last year. “Someone showed up at my door this week,” he said, “trying to bribe me to get out of politics.”
“They tried to bribe me in the name of position, with a large salary, with a position on the board. I said, are you kidding?” he said. “Politics is so disgusting.”
DeWit told NBC News that she felt burned by someone she considered a friend. “I felt we were in a better position of trust because of everything I did for him. I was amazed that he didn’t respect it at all.”
It’s unclear why the vote was released now, but the Arizona GOP is holding its annual meeting in Phoenix on Saturday.
Steve Daines, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said he knew nothing about the recording.
“I just saw the report on that,” the Montana senator said, “but I didn’t listen to it.”
Asked about DeWit’s claim that people “back east” wanted her out of the race, Daines said, “Look, I think Kari Lake is a great candidate and she’s going to win this race in Arizona.”