Defiant Hoffman releases mug shot, slams AG

Jul. 8—A defiant Sen. Jake Hoffman pulled a Donald Trump last week by releasing the mug shot taken after he surrendered to face charges of conspiracy and fraud for allegedly trying to keep the former president in office after Joe Biden outpolled him by 10,000 votes in the 2020 General Election.

But unlike the former president — who released a mug shot of him scowling following his indictment in Georgia for allegedly being involved in a similar scheme in the Peach State — Hoffman smiled broadly for sheriff's deputies.

In releasing his mug shot, Hoffman also ripped Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes for a "political prosecution campaign against the 2020 Republican electors."

Hoffman and 10 other top Republicans in Arizona, along with seven others "schemed to prevent the lawful transfer of the presidency," Mayes said in April after a grand jury indicted the individuals.

"Whatever their reasoning was, the plot to violate the law must be answered for, and I was elected to uphold the law of this state," Mayes said in announcing the indictments.

Hoffman fired back in releasing his mug shot, declaring: "In war, only leaders are targeted for assassination. This is a political war.

"You can persecute us. You can attack us. But you will never silence us," he said. "Truth will always prevail."

He then added in his released in capital letters: "NEVER SURRENDER."

"Before an investigation had even been conducted and with no evidence, Kris Mayes declared that she believed electors such as myself were guilty of a crime, that it was her job to get Biden re-elected, and that she would control the timing of the indictment," Hoffman continued.

"Let me be unequivocal, I am innocent of any crime, I will vigorously defend myself, and I look forward to the day when I am vindicated of this naked political persecution by the judicial process."

Hoffman is one of three people indicted in the Arizona case who have been picked as Arizona at-large delegates to the Republican National Convention later this month.

He will be joined by alleged co-conspirators Nancy Cottle, who chaired the slate of electors for Trump in 2020, and Glendale state Rep. Anthony Kern, who is running for Congress.

"The voters of America, whether they be Republican or Democrat, are not stupid. And they see what's happening to President (Donald) Trump, they see what's happening to Anthony Kern here in Arizona," Kern told Cronkite News recently.

Three days after a Maricopa County grand jury indicted him and 17 others on felony charges, delegates to the state GOP convention gave Kern the most votes of any candidate for at-large delegate to the national convention at which Trump will accept the presidential nomination.

In all 40 Arizona delegates will be heading to in Milwaukee next weekend for the convention, which begins July 15.

Each of the 11 Trump electors was charged with nine felonies related to trying to subvert the election, including conspiracy, fraud and forgery. All of the defendants pleaded not guilty.

The trial in the elector case is tentatively set for October.

Trump's campaign used his mug shot on coffee mugs, T-shirts and other memorabilia after it was released and raised a reported $7 million.

Hoffman gave no indication if he would follow suit.