Appeals court rejects Arizona Senate’s privilege argument

(KYMA, KECY/ AP News) - A state appeals court says legislative privilege does not broadly protect the Arizona Senate from having to release hundreds of public records related to the review of the 2020 election.

The Court of Appeals upheld a lower court’s narrow view of the legislative privilege, rejecting arguments by lawyers for the Republican-controlled senate.

The Senate and Cyber Ninjas has disclosed more than 20,000 records but is withholding all or part of about 1,000 documents citing the legislative privilege, which is meant to promote robust debate among elected officials.

Senate Republicans argued that the privilege applies broadly to lawmakers’ communications about the election review. But the judges ruled the privilege applies only to discussions related to the process of passing legislation.