Arizona GOP's 3 stooges stuck with $75K in sanctions … nyuck, nyuck, nyuck

For the purposes of this particular missive, I will go with the number three.

There are quite a few more, actually.

But in this case we’re only talking about U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar, state Sen. Anthony Kern and former lawmaker and failed secretary of state candidate Mark Finchem.

Three Republican stooges who decided to bring a hair-brained defamation lawsuit against a former Arizona state lawmaker … lost … then stubbornly, if idiotically, decided to appeal that decision and … lost again.

Message received about groundless cases

They were ordered to pay $75,000 in legal fees by the judge in the initial case.

That order has been upheld by a unanimous three-judge appeals court panel, which has allowed for attorneys’ fees to be assessed in its case as well.

So, we’re talking a lot more than $75,000.

All because Arizona’s Moe, Larry and Curly didn’t like the fact that former House Democratic Leader Charlene Fernandez shared a letter asking the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate their participation in the awful events of Jan. 6, 2021, at U.S. Capitol. (Republican Rep. Andy Biggs was mentioned as well, but he never joined the suit.)

More sanctions: Finchem pays, launches fundraising appeal

Fernandez’s attorney, David Bodney, said in a statement, “This decision sends the important message that groundless cases, and claims pursued in bad faith, have no place in our judicial system.”

If they appeal, court should offer 3 words

Finchem already has taken it on the chin for bringing a frivolous election lawsuit.

I suppose we wouldn’t be shocked or surprised if Gosar, Kern and Finchem try to take this latest case to the Arizona Supreme Court.

If so, I’d hope that court would express its feelings about groundless lawsuits brought in bad faith by hitting the trio with even more sanctions and issuing a three-word opinion:

Nyuck, nyuck, nyuck.

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona's 3 stooges stuck with $75K in sanctions