America First Legal is taking Maricopa County to court, here's why

The claim is that Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer is disobeying state and federal laws.

PUBLISHED AUG 8, 2024

AFL aims to use the legal system to challenge what it perceives as unlawful actions by the Left.

Phoenix, Arizona: America First Legal has filed a lawsuit against Maricopa county officials "the failure to check for and purge voter rolls of those who are not citizens".

The claim is that Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer is disobeying state and federal laws by not using tools at his disposal to find out if any of the more than 26,000 people who signed up to vote using a federal form are ineligible to cast ballots.

Attorney James Rogers is asking Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Danielle Viola to order Richer to use "all available resources'' to find out if any of those who signed up with the federal form are not citizens and should not be deciding who gets the state's 11 electoral votes. And he also wants the judge to tell Richer to forward the names of everyone on that federal-only voter list to Attorney General Kris Mayes so she can conduct her own investigation.

What is America First Legal (AFL)?

America First Legal (AFL) is a conservative legal organization founded in April 2021 by Stephen Miller, a former senior advisor to President Donald Trump. The organization aims to use the legal system to challenge what it perceives as unlawful actions by the left, particularly focusing on executive overreach and administrative law issues. AFL's stated mission is to protect American citizens' rights, sovereignty, and values against perceived attacks by liberal politicians, big tech companies, and other entities.

AFL is involved in various legal activities, including filing lawsuits and supporting Republican attorneys general to combat executive actions that they believe violate constitutional principles. The organization operates similarly to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) but from a conservative perspective, focusing on issues such as immigration, free speech, and government overreach.

Some of AFL's notable actions include filing lawsuits against policies and practices that they argue are discriminatory against white individuals, challenging corporate diversity efforts, and opposing certain educational policies like Critical Race Theory. The group has also been involved in legal efforts related to election integrity and executive actions during the Biden administration.

The leadership of AFL includes several former Trump administration officials, such as Gene Hamilton, who serves as Vice President and General Counsel, and Reed Rubinstein, a former Deputy Associate Attorney General. The organization has been actively fundraising and expanding its influence in conservative legal circles.