By admin 
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A law firm connected to one of President Donald Trump’s closest advisors is at the center of a legal battle over control of Maricopa County’s next election.
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The fight over White House influence in local elections is set for a showdown Monday in court.
The law firm is America First Legal, which is based in Washington, D.C. It was co-founded by one of President Trump’s top aides, Stephen Miller, who is known to spread false claims of election fraud.
Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap hired Miller’s firm earlier this year. Since then, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said it has illegally overstepped its authority.
In a court filing, Mitchell wrote, “AFL’s acting as de facto deputy attorneys … is illegal.”
Mitchell is expected to open a new front in court on Monday.
Toxic relationship between county officials
County Supervisor Thomas Galvin, a Republican, called Heap a liar.
“Justin Heap, the recorder is a liar, flat out,” Galvin said.
The statement sums up the toxic relationship between the county board and Heap, also a Republican. Politically, the two sides have been at war over who controls elections.
Galvin said Mitchell is telling the courts that Heap is circumventing her office, using a partisan law firm from out of state to run and control the entire recorder’s office.
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“That’s a very damaging and scary allegation,” Galvin said.
Galvin said he has only had interactions with the attorney who works at the recorder’s office. The attorney has written emails to the board saying the board should only go through him. Heap has given up complete control over his office, Galvin said.
Ballots removed from secure site
The legal challenge is the latest in the ongoing fight between the board and the recorder’s office.
This week, the board accused the recorder’s office of removing ballots and equipment from a secure election site during a local election without authorization. The county released video of the removal on Thursday.
The drama is happening just a couple of weeks before the start of the primary elections.
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