A judge Thursday ruled that the public has a right to know who is paying for the outside audit of the 2020 election in Maricopa County. 

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Michael Kemp rejected arguments by state Senate President Karen Fann that information about who is paying the non-government group, Cyber Ninjas, should remain secret. Kemp ruled that the work of the private firm reviewing ballots and voting equipment for months is subject to public records laws.

The Senate is paying the Cyber Ninjas $150,000, but the judge noted that amount is far less than the total cost. Under the agreement signed by Fann, Cyber Ninjas has been allowed to raise money from private sources. The total cost of the review has not been released.  

In his ruling Judge Kemp said what is at issue here is the enforcement of the public records law, a statute crafted by the Legislature itself.