Video taking off 35x its usual first day

Maricopa County says late-night election work was authorized

FOX 10 Phoenix examines an FBI referral over tabulation-center footage and the county's explanation that workers were preparing offline software.

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FOX 10 Phoenix Story of October 17, 2026Trari Newsroom

Why this story? The video opened at a pace of 55,708 views a day, 35 times a normal first day on this channel (1,582).

Maricopa County election video sparks FBI referral | FOX 10 Phoenix

Things we can learn from the video

Press to jump

0:21Luthi explains that Heap received a citizen's video showing election employees working late on October 7.
1:18Heap says referring potential concerns about activity inside the secured facility followed required protocol.
1:30The county says employees were preparing offline ballot-duplication software, with party observers invited to view the process.
2:40Brophy McGee says law enforcement found no wrongdoing and condemns harassment and exposure of employees' personal information.
3:20Luthi notes the facility is continuously livestreamed and says late-night work will likely continue before Election Day.

"There was no incident. It was simply people working late at night," Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chair Kate Brophy McGee tells FOX 10 Phoenix.

That is the county's explanation for footage that Recorder Justin Heap's office referred to the FBI and county attorney. Reporter Jacob Luthi examines what employees were doing inside the secured election facility and why officials disagreed over how to handle questions about it.

According to the county, employees were setting up internet-isolated software used in ballot duplication. The work did not involve the Election Management System or vote-counting machines. Local political party representatives were invited to watch a demonstration of the software updates.

Heap says forwarding potential concerns about activity in a secured facility was required protocol, and denies alleging wrongdoing. He also criticizes the time county leaders took to explain the footage publicly. Brophy McGee says his office should have called to ask about the work first. She says law enforcement closed the matter without finding wrongdoing and warns that election employees were harassed and had personal information exposed.

The report drew about 24,000 views in seven hours, far beyond the station's usual start for a regular video. Its central distinction is important: a referral for review is not a finding of misconduct. Luthi closes by noting that the facility is continuously livestreamed and that late-night work is expected to continue ahead of Election Day.

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