Jeff DeWit, chairman of the Arizona Republican Party, has been caught on a secret recording appearing to bribe Kari Lake not to run for U.S. Senate. 

By William Upton | The National Pulse

The state party chairman mentions “very powerful people” who are “back east” — likely referring to establishment Republicans in Washington, D.C. — who want Lake out of the Arizona Senate race and are willing to compensate her financially.

At one point in the recording, DeWit asks Lake if there is a dollar “number” for which she’d abandon her candidacy.

DeWit was recorded saying, “Just say, is there a number at which…” before Lake cuts him off.

The former Republican gubernatorial candidate interrupts, shocked by DeWit’s question: “I can be bought? That’s what it’s about?”

The chairman replies that Lake could “pause for a couple of years” and then “go right back to” her political advocacy.

In response, Lake gives a firm “no,” adding: “Ten million? Twenty million? Thirty? No… a billion? No.”

On the recording, Lake tells DeWit, “This is not about money. ”

She continues, “This is about our country.” She goes on to call DeWit’s proposition “disturbing.”

Despite the firm rejection, DeWit continues to pressure Lake.

“I’m not going to let these people who hate our f***ing country tell me not to run,” Lake fired back. “You should call them and tell them to get behind me.”

According to DeWit, the D.C. Republican establishment doesn’t view Lake as “being on the team,” prompting Lake to respond: “If they’re pushing a globalist agenda, I can’t do that.”

At this point, DeWit again appears to offer Lake a bribe directly, telling her “the people back east” were willing to give her a cushy corporate job in exchange for staying out of Arizona politics for two years.