¶ Arizona Senate Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli: Prolific QAnon-Adjacent Election Conspiracist With History Of Domestic Violence Incidents
SUMMARY: Arizona State Sen. Sonny Borelli, who claims to be a “dedicated conservative Republican,” is currently the State Senate’s majority leader and is considering running to be on the Mohave County Board of Supervisors, where he will have power over election administration.
Election Conspiracies
- Borrelli has appeared at an “audit superpanel” at an extreme QAnon convention, discussing election fraud, claiming Gen. Michael Flynn was “framed by the FBI,” and calling COVID-19 the “plandemic.” Borrelli also repeatedly appeared with event organizer QAnon John and QAnon figure Vincent Fusca, who conspiracists believe to be the late John F. Kennedy Jr.
- Borrelli has multiple ties to election conspiracist Mike Lindell, who called Borrelli a “hero.” Borrelli attended Lindell’s 2021 “Cyber Symposium” and has repeatedly appeared on Lindell’s far-right streaming network alongside Trump allies like Steve Bannon and Roger Stone.
- In 2023, Borrelli cited authority he does not have when trying to order all Arizona counties to stop using electronic voting equipment, tried to push potentially unlawful and unreliable ballot hand-counts, pushed unlawful legislation to purge voter rolls every decade, and voted for a “bonkers” far-right plan to break up Maricopa County.
- In 2022, Borrelli said 2020 election conspiracies were not theories, introduced a bill to require an “exhaustive” audit of every election, enlisted an extreme “anti woke” group to void Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs’ election, urged “vigilantes” to stalk ballot drop boxes, and only produced one allegedly deceased voter after claiming massive election fraud.
- In 2021, Trump praised Borrelli as “amazing” for his election conspiracy efforts. Borrelli also called for the 2020 election to be “nullified” on Steve Bannon’s show, said alleged voter fraud evidence would “evaporate” if given to the Arizona Attorney General, and he sustained the Big Lie in pushing burdensome ballot security measures.
- In 2020, Borrelli attended an unofficial election fraud “hearing” with Rudy Giuliani and another Trump Lawyer who told state lawmakers “you're the last step to make sure that this election is not corrupted.”
- Borrelli’s social media platforms include posts saying “SURRENDER Is NOT In Our CREED” while sharing Trump’s election fraud claims, liking a post promoting Jan. 6 activities that said “The Time Is Now. Hold The Line,” and continuing to repost Trump’s claim of “ELECTION INTERFERENCE” well into 2023.
Domestic Violence Incidents
- 2001: Borrelli pleaded guilty to a domestic violence charge for punching his then-wife “in the mouth/face with a closed fist three times in rapid succession” and forcefully trying to stop his family’s 911 calls. Borrelli claimed his wife’s wounds were “self-inflicted” and blamed the couple’s children for calling 911, saying “I caught the heat for it.”
- 2023: New documents emerged about a second domestic violence incident involving Borrelli. Previously unreported police reports indicate that Borrelli “assaulted his wife again” in 2004, when police reported multiple injuries to his then-wife, who said he hit her “several times” and fired “one of his many guns.” The watchdog group that revealed the documents also said Borrelli “knowingly lied” to a court about his history of domestic violence allegations.
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