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Audio recording reveals the moment that senior Republican figure tried to bribe Kari Lake not to run for Senate
Jeff DeWit, 51, chair of the Arizona Republican Party, can be heard asking Lake, a close ally of Donald Trump, to name her price to stay out of politics for two years.
'There are very powerful people who want to keep you out,' he tells her in a conversation recorded at the start of March last year.
DeWit tells Lake, 54, one of the most public faces of the former president's MAGA movement and a woman frequently spoken of as a 2024 vice-presidential pick, that he thinks Trump will lose and it is time to make way for someone else.
After asking her not to mention the conversation to anyone, he makes his first offer.
'So the ask I got today from back east was: "Is there any companies out there or something that could just put her on the payroll to keep her out?’
Lake reacts with indignation.
'This is about defeating Trump and I think that's a bad, bad thing for our country,' she said.
Later, DeWit, who was chief operating officer on the Trump's 2020 campaign frames it differently.
'Just say, is there a number at which....' he begins.
Lake cut in: 'I can be bought? That's what it's about.'
'You can take a pause for a couple of years. You can go right back to what you're doing.'
Lake repeatedly rebuffs him and says she wouldn't do it for a billion dollars.
'This is not about money, it's about our country,' she says.
Two sources confirmed DeWit's identity as the speaker.
He and his press secretary did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Lake's office also did not respond.
At the time of their conversation, Lake was publicly mulling a run for the U.S. Senate.
And the episode reveals the tensions triggered after she refused to accept defeat in the 2022 Arizona governor race.
She emerged as a national figure, becoming a regular on Fox News as she echoed Trump's election denialism. That put her at odds with the more traditional wing of the Republican Party who feared a new breed of Trump loyalist may alienate big donors.
In October, she announced her run.
Lake has previously discussed the extraordinary effort to keep her out of the race, but never revealed who was behind it.
On Monday, Arizona talk show host Garret Lewis named DeWit, who was elected chairman of the party in January last year.
He was state treasurer of the party before being appointed by Trump to be NASA's chief financial officer.
Arizona party officials quickly called for him to step down as news of his offer to Lake spread.
Jeff DeWit resigned as the chair of the Arizona Republican Party Wednesday, 24 hours after DailyMail.com published leaked audio of him offering Kari Lake a plum job or money to step out of politics.
In the tape, he can be heard explaining that powerful people would offer her a job or money if she sits out of politics for two years.
In his resignation statement he accused Lake of setting him up by recording a private conversation.
'This morning I was determined to fight for my position,' said DeWit, 51. '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.'
Trump is supposed to be 6'3", so how tall is Dewitless AND his wife? NWO NASA Nazis?
Kari Lake: Jeff. So what’s going on? What is it? (rustle, crunch)
Jeff DeWit: I've got a proposition for you.
Kari Lake: Oh? What kind of proposition?
Jeff DeWit: Well, there's some very powerful people back east who want you out of politics for a couple of years. They really want someone different.
Kari Lake: And what do they want me to do?
Jeff DeWit: They want you to stay out for two years. I can tell you what I can offer you. They're willing to pay you a lot of money and put you on the payroll of a company. Whatever we need to do.
Kari Lake: Are you serious? (slurp)
Jeff DeWit: Yes. It's a good offer. You could take a break from politics and come back in a couple of years.
Kari Lake: I'm not interested in being bought off. This is about stopping Trump! I don’t think that’s good for the country.
Jeff DeWit: It's not about being bought off. It's about taking a step back and letting things cool down.
Kari Lake: I don't need to cool down. I'm fighting for what's right. This is a hill worth dying on.
Jeff DeWit: I understand that, but this could be a good opportunity for you. DC is a big back-scratching club. You’re in no position to scratch anybody’s back.
Kari Lake: I don't need any opportunities from those people. I'm going to keep fighting. The battle is right now, Jeff, not two years from now. They’re going to have to kill me to stop me.
Jeff DeWit: Alright. Just thought I'd let you know about the offer. You should be honored. I wish you’d just make me a huge counter-offer. Gimme a counter. Is there a number where you’d … just take a pause?
Kari Lake: No. No. I have to go work on my book. I’m flattered, and offended. But thanks for letting me know. Bye-bye.
Jeff DeWit: Goodbye.
“Is there any companies out there or something that could just put her on the payroll to keep her out?”
Full Audio:
https://twitter.com/bennyjohnson/status/1749885512163205344