Maricopa County GOP Leader Threatens Election Official

Shelby Busch, the first vice chair of the Maricopa County Republican Committee, faced fierce backlash after threatening to 'lynch' Stephen Richer, a Jewish GOP County Recorder, during a local event. Busch, who later claimed the remark was a joke, has been condemned by the Anti-Defamation League and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Phoenix. Richer, who has frequently received threats, emphasized that such language has no place in politics. The controversial statement was made during a campaign event and has drawn criticism for its violent and anti-Semitic connotations. Despite the outcry, Busch has not publicly apologized, and the Maricopa County GOP has not officially commented on the incident. This incident underscores ongoing tensions and threats faced by election officials in Arizona, particularly those who challenge baseless election fraud claims.