Judge dismisses ‘sham’ Green Party candidates’ lawsuit against agency investigating them

A Maricopa County judge dismissed a lawsuit from Arizona Green Party candidates Risa Lombardo and Duwayne Collier, who sought to block the Citizens Clean Elections Commission from ordering repayment of $4.7 million in public funds they're accused of fraudulently obtaining. Judge Melissa Iyer Julian ruled the claim isn't ripe since no repayment order has issued and the investigation, due Oct. 29, isn't complete.

The candidates, along with a Republican who lost his primary, are accused of falsifying thousands of $5 qualifying contributions; reporting found nearly 4,000 shared donors across the three campaigns, including over 2,600 who supposedly gave to all three, several of whom told reporters they never donated at all. Both candidates also failed to disclose payments to a Nevada firm formed weeks before qualifying, and to two other vendors, as required by law.

The judge said the candidates can refile if and when an actual repayment order is issued, but rejected arguments that the approaching Nov. 3 election created urgency for early court intervention.

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