AG Mayes issued a statement after facing a setback in court regarding her prosecution of the so-called "fake electors." These individuals were indicted for their roles in attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 Presidential election. Under a relatively new law, AG Mayes must now demonstrate that her pursuit of action against the Republican defendants is free from political motives. The court acknowledged that the motions filed by the defendants could be seen as a lawful exercise of their rights to petition and free speech. The motion to dismiss the charges of fraud, forgery, and conspiracy rests on Arizona’s anti-SLAPP law, which aims to prevent prosecutors from using criminal charges as a means to suppress or penalize free speech. 

"We disagree with this ruling, and we will pursue an appeal. It is not the lawful exercise of free speech to file forged slates of electors to deprive Arizona voters of their right to vote."- AG Mayes