Thread by @dsamuelsohn

NEW: There are concerns that if the Biden administration DOJ intervenes in the Arizona Cyber Ninjas audit it'd incite a January 6-style riot - by ⁦@cdechalus⁩ ($) ⁦@thisisinsider⁩ businessinsider.com/arizona-electi…

Lede: The audit of the 2020 election results in Arizona's Maricopa County has been called everything from a "sham" to a "fundraising ploy" for Republicans to raise money. And election-security experts are requesting that the Department of Justice monitor it.

But there's serious risk that would come both with the Justice Department jumping in — and with it not doing so.

Perhaps most urgent is the threat of violence akin to the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, perpetrated by supporters of President Donald Trump who believed the 2020 presidential election was rigged.

Some officials said this threat alone necessitated DOJ involvement, particularly since Trump continues to tell lies & push conspiracy theories re. 2020. NYT recently reported Trump had told associates he expected the audits would lead to him being reinstated as president by Aug.

While that's a constitutional impossibility, don't tell that to Trump's most ardent supporters.
"Could there be another riot or interaction like they had on January 6? You bet," said Steve Gallardo, the only Democratic official on the board of supervisors in Maricopa County.

"These are the unintended consequences to them continuing to push the big lie. They continue to undermine our democracy, and they continue to discredit the election system in the state of Arizona,” Gallardo added.

Gallardo said that the Justice Department "needs to stand up and come to Arizona, and intervene and put an end to this," saying: "If our top law-enforcement officers are not willing to do it, then I believe the Department of Justice needs to do it."

Lots more in this deep dive report from @cdechalus - check it all out with a @thisisinsider subscription! Sign up here: businessinsider.com/arizona-electi…