An attorney representing Maricopa County sent Republican state Senate President Karen Fann a letter ordering the preservation of all documents relating to the audit of the county. Maricopa County attorney Allister Adel sent the notice (pdf) to Fann claiming that some of the auditors involved in the process made potentially false or defamatory allegations. “It is clear the Arizona Senate and its contractors do not intend to retract false allegations defaming the County and its employees,” Maricopa County Chairman Jack Sellers said in a statement on Friday in relation to the demand letter sent by Adel. The letter’s language suggested that the county may be readying a lawsuit against Fann and other Republican leaders, as lawyers typically issue litigation holds before filing suits. “For that reason, Maricopa County is formally requesting Senate President Fann, Senator Petersen, Senate liaison Ken Bennett and contractors involved in the ‘audit’ preserve documents and evidence as …