Why I would bring a listening device detector to any chat with Kari Lake

It’s beginning to look like the failed Arizona Republican governor candidate now running for U.S. Senate might be a Deep State unto herself.

First, Kari Lake came mic’d up for an ambush confrontation at the airport with Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego.

Remember that?

She was loaded for bear, scripted, wired and with a camera operator at the ready to bushwhack the congressman, who is also running for U.S. Senate.

Jeff DeWit was MAGA personified

Now comes the leak of a recorded conversation in which Arizona Republican Party chairman Jeff DeWit clumsily offers Lake a lucrative opportunity to step away from politics for a few years in exchange for … “is there a number … .”

The big story, for now, is all about DeWit’s ham-handed inducement, which took place back in March and is being released this week in what looks like a no holds barred effort to get DeWit ousted from his job.

“He’s got to resign,” Lake said.

Bumbling GOP boss: Plays right into Lake's hands

Interesting, because DeWit is MAGA personified.

He was the chief operating officer for Trump’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He was rewarded by Dear Leader, who made him the chief financial officer of NASA in the Trump administration.

He has been the head of Arizona’s GOP since January 2023.

Who else said something they shouldn't?

If someone like that was recorded during a private conversation with Lake, how many other good and loyal MAGAs are now wondering if they might have said something in private they should be worried about?

Arizona is a one-party consent state, meaning our law allows any conversation to be recorded so long as one party in the conversation is aware it is being recorded.

Lots and lots of big-time MAGAs have trooped through Arizona over the past couple of years. I’d guess most of them didn’t know about Arizona’s one-party consent law.

I’d also guess that more than a few of them are now thinking that maybe they should have brought along an electronic listening device detector.

Would Trump ask about other recordings?

Lake spent a lot of time at Mar-a-Lago as well. But Florida is a two-party consent state, requiring everyone in a conversation to know if they’re being recorded.

Of course, Trump has spent a lot of time in Arizona. In fact, he’s coming back this week. I can’t imagine Lake won’t be with him on the stage, or that the two of them won’t have a few quiet minutes together to chat.

The former president is known to be a suspicious guy. He envisions Deep State plots all around him.

If you were Trump, would you ask Lake if she was aware if any of their previous conversations were recorded?

Would you trust her answer if she said no?

What we can learn about Kari Lake

Would you ask her if she was aware of any other recorded conversations that might make MAGA folks look bad?

Would you trust her answer if she said no?

Would you have your Secret Service detail electronically sweep the room (with her in it) for bugs?

There is no doubt that in the leaked recording between Lake and DeWit, the chairman of the Arizona Republican Party comes off as the clumsiest of corruptors.

But in the long run, it may have been Lake’s character that was most plainly exposed.

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.

For more opinions content, please subscribe

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kari Lake wants to chat? Be sure to bring a bug detector