PHOENIX – Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer and former gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake have reportedly reached a confidential settlement in Richer’s defamation lawsuit against Lake.
The settlement, reported Sunday by the Washington Post, includes no disclosed details. Richer stated in a text message that “both sides are satisfied with the result.”
Background of the Lawsuit
Richer filed the defamation lawsuit in June 2023, alleging that Lake made repeated false claims about him following her loss in the 2022 Arizona gubernatorial election. The lawsuit accused Lake of spreading rhetoric that led to harassment and threats against Richer, damaging his reputation and forcing him to spend thousands of dollars on home security.
The lawsuit named Lake, her campaign, and her political fundraising group as defendants. Richer sought monetary damages and a court order requiring Lake to publicly retract her statements and remove them from social media.
Legal Developments Leading to Settlement
After her attempts to dismiss the lawsuit were rejected, Lake requested a default judgment in March 2024, effectively conceding liability. This moved the case to the damages phase, where the court would assess the harm caused by her statements.
At the time, Richer commented, “We now have a judgment saying that Kari Lake lied about me, lied to the world, lied to Arizona, lied about the 2022 election.”
Outcome and Implications
While the specifics of the settlement remain confidential, Richer expressed satisfaction with the resolution. The case serves as a notable example of the legal consequences of election-related rhetoric and its impact on public officials.
Neither Lake nor her representatives have commented publicly on the settlement.
