The legal drama surrounding Senator Justine Wadsack’s alleged speeding incident took an unexpected turn last week, raising questions about whether it is part of a standard procedure or a case of political persecution. The case centers on a March 2024 traffic stop in Tucson, where Wadsack, a Republican, was allegedly clocked at 71 mph in a 35 mph zone.

During an interview on Garret Lewis’ “The Afternoon Addiction” radio show, Senator Wadsack and her attorney, Brad Miller, confirmed that the Tucson Police Department has not produced any radar confirmation of her speeding.

Miller also told The Arizona Globe, “This entire case has been unusual, which is why we are looking into a possible political motivation. On March 15, 2024, Senator Wadsack was driving home from work at the Arizona Senate. She was driving on Speedway Drive in Tucson, near the University of Arizona Campus. The area has numerous stoplights and vehicles, which makes it improbable that Senator Wadsack was driving anywhere near 71 mph. Officer Ryder Schrage stopped Senator Wadsack and said he had her on radar going 71 mph. We now know that this isn’t true, since there is no evidence of radar.”

The case turned controversial after the Tucson Police Department (TPD) leaked the March 15 traffic stop bodycam footage just weeks before Wadsack’s primary election. In the video, an officer stated, “You were doing 70,” to which Wadsack quickly responded, “I was not doing 70.” The officer asserted, “I had my radar on.”

However, during the stop,  the officer never issued Wadsack a citation. Adding fuel to the “political prosecution” fire is TPDs inability (or refusal) to provide evidence of the alleged radar reading.

According to Miller, “Here is where the story gets strange: Senator Wadsack still had not received a citation. The following day, Officer Schrage signed a criminal complaint form, citing Senator Wadsack for a class 3 misdemeanor, knowing there was no radar evidence. Senator Wadsack wants to know who made the decision to file the criminal complaint two weeks before her primary election. This decision appears to be intentional election interference, which is why we will continue to ask questions and investigate this matter thoroughly.”

Further complicating matters, an incident report revealed that Lt. Lauren Pettey, who had a phone call with Wadsack on June 27, could not record the conversation. The report includes a notable footnote from the officer: “It should be noted that when this phone call began I was in the process of transitioning offices heading to the TPD Hangar for a meeting, so my BWC had already been placed in my vehicle. By the time I went to retrieve it to record, the conversation had ended.”

Senator Wadsack has framed these legal actions as part of a broader effort to undermine her re-election campaign, asserting that TPD sought to damage her public image by releasing the footage and report. The release of the bodycam cost her a critical endorsement from the Arizona Fraternal Order of Police, which may have contributed to her narrow loss in the election—she received 48.4% of the vote to her opponent’s 51.6%.

Judge Geraldine Hale’s unexpected recusal from the case in mid-September delayed the proceedings, adding another layer of uncertainty. The case was subsequently reassigned to Judge Lisa Surhio, leaving the outcome of Wadsack’s criminal speeding charges uncertain. At a pre-arraignment hearing, Wadsack entered a not-guilty plea. As Wadsack awaits her next court date on October 28, her legal team continues to argue that the absence of radar evidence casts doubt on the charges against her.