Jeff DeWit, the head of the Arizona GOP, resigns over bribery accusations

The resignation of Jeff DeWit, the state head of the Arizona Republican Party, on Wednesday due to bribery charges caused a stir inside the party.

DeWit attempted to get Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, to withdraw from the campaign by allegedly promising her money from “very powerful people,” according to a leaked video.

According to the audio, which was produced by Lake and released to the Daily Mail, DeWit said that “they’re willing to put their money where their mouth is, in a big way” and that “there are very powerful people who want to keep you out” of the Senate campaign.

Refusing to be “bought,” Lake called DeWit and his supporters “corrupt.” Having lost the gubernatorial campaign to Democrat Katie Hobbs, Lake was now running against Ruben Gallego, a Democrat, and maybe independent Kyrsten Sinema for the Senate seat.

“They need to want me. People adore me, and I’m a fantastic candidate. As heard on the audio leak, Lake said, “These people are corrupt.” DeWit begged Lake many times to keep the discussion private.

As asked by Lake, I am resigning: DeWit DeWit announced his resignation on Wednesday, saying that Lake’s team had blackmailed him by threatening to reveal further recordings in the event that he did not step down.

“As requested by Lake, I am resigning with the hope that she will keep her word to stop attacking.”

Lake’s group refuted this, claiming they didn’t threaten or use blackmail against DeWit.

In addition, DeWit used self-defense to claim that the recording was “selectively edited” and a “deceptive tactic” and that, at the time of their chat ten months before, Lake was really employed by his own firm, suggesting that there may have been legal ramifications. As an online brand promoter, Lake, a former TV anchor, often tapes herself with a microphone.

DeWit emphasized that he was only “offering a helpful perspective to someone I considered a friend,” not that he was attempting to buy off Lake.

While the state has become more competitive and moderate, the bribery incident highlighted the fundamental splits inside the Arizona Republican party, which has moved to the extreme right and accepted Trump’s ludicrous allegations of election fraud. Given that Trump was scheduled to visit Arizona later this week and then attend the state party’s annual convention, the timing of the leak seemed particularly noteworthy.