Lake on hook for $33K in witness fees in failed challenge

By JACQUES BILLEAUD
Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) — A judge has ordered Kari Lake, the Republican who lost the Arizona governor’s race, to pay $33,000 in fees for witnesses who helped defend officials against Lake’s failed challenge of her defeat to Democrat Katie Hobbs. But Judge Peter Thompson rejected a request for hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees for the attorneys who defended the officials. On Tuesday, Thompson declined to impose sanctions against Lake and her lawyers, saying Lake’s failure to prove her case doesn’t mean there was a finding that her claims were groundless. On Saturday, Thompson dismissed Lake’s election challenge. Lake plans to appeal.