Turning Point Leader and ex-lawmaker pleads guilty to attempted election fraud

Turning Point leader and former GOP state legislator Austin Smith pleaded guilty Monday to what he previously called ludicrous charges, that he personally forged more than 100 signatures on his petitions for reelection last year. He was a member of the far-right Arizona Freedom Caucus, which has a history of spreading false claims of election fraud in the 2020 presidential election and pushed for election law changes in the state legislature. At the time he was indicted, Smith was strategic director of Turning Point Action, Turning Point USA's advocacy arm. The far-right organization, founded by Charlie Kirk who was shot and killed in September, is based in Phoenix and aims to mobilize young conservatives.