Finchem, Gosar attempting to avoid paying legal fees in lawsuit against former lawmaker

By Greg Hahne
Howard Fischer/Capitol Media Services
Published: Tuesday, January 24, 2023 - 10:24am

Anthony Kern, Mark Finchem and Paul Gosar
Howard Fischer/Capitol Media Services, Austen Bundy/Cronkite News
(From left) Anthony Kern, Mark Finchem and Paul Gosar

Three former and current Republican lawmakers are attempting to avoid paying legal fees after a judge ruled they unfairly sued a lawmaker who called for investigations into their actions around the Jan. 6 riot. 

An attorney asked the state Court of Appeals to reinstate a slander suit against former state Rep. and Democrat Charlene Fernandez. 

A judge tossed the suit, saying Fernandez had a right to ask the FBI and Department of Justice to investigate former lawmaker Mark Finchem, Congressman Paul Gosar and state Sen. Anthony Kern. 

Forty-one other Democratic state lawmakers signed the letter sent to the federal law enforcement agencies.

The attorney also contends the judge was wrong in requiring the Republicans to pay Fernandez $75,000 for filing the suit. 

Finchem was ordered to pay legal fees in another suit against Maricopa County.

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