Turning Point staff member and former West Valley Republican state legislator Austin Smith, who called InBuckeye reporting ‘counterproductive, dangerous,' has been indicted on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges for allegedly forging signatures on his petitions for reelection. 
Smith is charged with deceiving the Secretary of State's office with petitions containing forged elector signatures and signing names other than his own to the nominating petition.
Turning Point Action's former senior director announced last year that he was withdrawing from his state congressional race amid allegations he forged signatures in a re-election petition for Legislative District 29.
His resignation came after an election challenge lawsuit was filed with the county, claiming that Smith forged signatures.
In his resignation announcement, he cited being a victim of a media conspiracy.
“It seemed ludicrous because Republicans trying to get on the ballot don’t seek Democrat signatures and would have no reason to forge Democrat signatures since they don’t count,” he wrote. “Nevertheless, it was something I took seriously because the coordinated attack included press releases and social media activity and other things that made it clear that this was a well-organized effort.”
Smith has been outwardly critical of InBuckeye, posting on X and Facebook to criticize reporting on the dangers of bird flu from unvetted factory animal farming. Smith said InBuckeye was conducting a witch hunt against the dairy industry, and referred to the reporting as counterproductive and dangerous.
A week after his latest criticism, Buckeye-based Hickman's Family Farms, the largest egg producer in the southwest, announced it will close two years following a recent bird flu outbreak.
The outbreak culled 6 million chickens amid federal vaccine delays, company officials claimed last month.
Smith has been vocal about supporting Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs in his bid for governor. He organized and worked the Biggs' Turning Point rally in Phoenix on May 31.
Pardons in Arizona rarely happen compared to other states, according to the Restoration of Rights Project.
According to state law, the state governor can decide to pardon a felony but may not act without an affirmative clemency board recommendation.
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