Arizona GOP In Disarray After Chairman Resigns After An Audio Recording Of Him Trying To Bribe Trump Ally Kari Lake Is Leaked

After Arizona GOP Chairman Jeff DeWitt stepped down after an audio recording of him attempting to bribe GOP Senate candidate Kari Lake was leaked online, the state Republican party is in chaos.

In the audio, DeWit told Lake that he was asked by incredibly powerful people from “back east” whether their companies could put her on their payroll and prevent her from running for GOP Senate this year.

“Is there a number at which… ” DeWit asked her.

“I can be bought,” Lake interrupted.

“Not be bought,” the former Arizona GOP chairman replied.

“That’s what it’s about,” Lake then stated.

“You can take a pause for a couple of years,” DeWit told her.

“No,” she responded.

“Then go right back to what you’re doing,” DeWit continued.

“Mmm-mm.” she stated. “No.”

“$10 million, $20 million, $30, no, $1 billion, no,” Lake added. “This is not about money, this is about our country.”

This conversation took place at Lake’s home.

The Arizona Republican Party posted a statement on X in which DeWit announced his resignation, denied Lake’s accusations of bribery and accused her of trying to gain control of the state’s GOP.

“In light of the recent revelation that Kari Lake has released a selectively edited audio recording of our private conversation, I must clearly address this deceptive tactic,” the former chairman began in his statement. “The recording, from over ten months ago, is not only taken out of context but also undermines the integrity of private discussions critical for party leadership.”

He also discussed the strength of the Arizona Republican Party.

“The truth is, when I took the helm, our party was in disarray – financially unstable, organizationally weak, and lacking in momentum,” he confessed. “Today, we have made significant improvements in acquiring a new office headquarters, legal victories for election integrity, and historic fundraising achievements.”

“Contrary to the notion of me being an enemy of Lake’s, this conversation was recorded while I was actually employing Lake in my private company,” DeWit admitted. “In fact, for over a year and a half we had many conversations where I was looking out for her financial interests. The ethical breach in her recording of our conversation, while Lake was my employee, raises serious legal and moral concerns. This act of recording was not just a betrayal of trust but also a violation of the fiduciary responsibilities of an employee.”

“Contrary to accusations of bribery, my discussions were transparent and intended to offer perspective, not coercion,” he declared. “Our relationship was based on friendship, and the conversation that is now being scrutinized was an open, unguarded exchange between friends in the living room of her house. I genuinely believed I was offering a helpful perspective to someone I considered a friend.”

DeWit mentioned that Lake was plotting against him after this conversation took place.

“The release of our conversation by Lake confirms a disturbing tendency to exploit private interactions for personal gain and increases concerns about her habit of secretly recording personal and private conversations,” he shared. “This is obviously a concern given how much interaction she has with high-profile people including President Trump. I question how effective a United States Senator can be when they cannot be trusted to engage in private and confidential conversations.”

“I said things I regret, but I realize when hearing Lake’s recording that I was set up,” DeWit added. “I believe she orchestrated this entire situation to have control over the state party, and it is obvious from the recording that she crafted her performance responses with the knowledge that she was recording it, intending to use this recording later to portray herself as a hero in her own story.”

“This morning, I was determined to fight for my position,” he continued. “However, a few hours ago, I received an ultimatum from Lake’s team: resign today or face the release of a new, more damaging recording. I am truly unsure of its contents, but considering our numerous past open conversations as friends, I have decided not to take the risk. I am resigning as Lake requested, in the hope that she will honor her commitment to cease her attacks, allowing me to return to the business sector – a field I find much more logical and prefer over politics.”

Arizona GOP spokesperson Dajana Zlaticanin confirmed Gina Swoboda was elected as the new chair of the Arizona Republican Party after an emergency Arizona GOP meeting on January 27.

“So proud of @GinaSwoboda winning by 67%,” Arizona state Sen. Wendy Rogers wrote on X. “@AZGOP will now be FULLY MAGA for 2024! Let’s goooo!”

Lake has been a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump and has actively promoted his false claims that the 2020 election was stolen. She lost her 2022 race for Arizona governor and announced her Senate run last fall.

Lake currently is being sued by a Maricopa County election official for defamation for claiming he tried to steal the governor’s election from her.