Kari Lake's Financial Disclosures Raise Questions

Senate candidate Kari Lake's financial disclosures have come under scrutiny, after it emerged she was paid $101,507 for working as an adviser to Superfeed Technologies, the company once headed by Jeff DeWit—who she helped depose last week as chair of the Arizona Republican Party.

The candidate and former Arizona gubernatorial hopeful was paid for up to 15 months of service with the company, which designs apps for campaigns, from April 2021 to March 2023, according to personal financial records filed on Tuesday.

At the time, DeWit was the CEO of Superfeed, a position he held until January 2023.

Republican Party Chair DeWit resigned last Wednesday after Lake, a Trump supporter who falsely claimed her 2022 gubernatorial race defeat to Katie Hobbs was due to widespread voting irregularities. threatened to release a "damaging" audio recording, DeWit alleged. Lake had claimed DeWit tried to convince her to stay out of the U.S. Senate race for the seat currently held by Independent Krysten Sinema.

A leaked recording appeared to reveal him suggesting a financial payment to Lake not to compete for the state's Senate seat in November, adding there are "very powerful people" who don't want her to run who are "willing to put their money where their mouth is."

In a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter, DeWit discussed his decision to step down: "This morning I was determined to fight for my position. However, a few hours ago I received an ultimatum from Lake's team: resign today or face the release of a new more damaging recording. I am truly unsure of its contents, but considering our numerous past open conversations as friends, I have decided not to take the risk. I am resigning as Lake requested in the hope that she will honor her commitment to cease her attacks," DeWit said.

The financial disclosures also showed Lake received $100,000 for her book with Winning Team Publishing, a company cofounded by Donald Trump Jr. She also received $75,000 in speaking fees between March and September to the organizations including the McKinney Values PAC, Turning Point Action and Israel Heritage Foundation in New York.

Overall, Lake reported assets worth between $2 million and $4.5 million. She listed no debts.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, attorney and frequent Trump critic Ron Filipkowski said: "So the guy Kari Lake secretly recorded, and she then released the tapes on to force his resignation as State GOP Chair, paid her $102K while she was running for Governor to do nothing. Is there anything NOT shady about Kari Fake?"

Another X user wrote: "Does this mean she took money from him and then turned around and released the audio tape of them? Hardly the high road if she took the money first."

A third wrote: "Well would you look at this. Kari Lake got paid 100 grand for a no show job working for the man she stabbed in the back."

The audio that led to DeWit's resignation showed DeWit asking Lake "is there a number" she would accept which might stop her running for the Arizona Senate seat.

"This is not about money, it's about our country,' Lake replied.

In his resignation letter, DeWit accused Lake of releasing a "selectively edited audio recording" of a private conversation from more than 10 months ago.

In a previous statement to Newsweek, Lake's campaign team said that the tape "speaks for itself" and that it is "unfortunate that DeWit hasn't recognized how unethical his behavior was."

A Lake spokesperson said: "Only the tone deaf Fake News Media could take a woman who walked away from a seven figure contract and then turned down a bribe for millions of dollars from the corrupt Arizona GOP Chair into the villain. Instead of focusing on the potential illegal behavior of the disgraced former Chairman, they are turning him into a martyr, even though he has lost all credibility and lied repeatedly on the record.

"Kari Lake derangement syndrome is the worst disease among the Arizona press corps. Thankfully Arizonans trust Kari Lake over the propagandist in the Fake News."

Update 01/31/24, 11:05 a.m. ET: This story was updated with comment from Lake's spokesperson.