Four officials in Avenal, Calif., who refused to step down after being recalled earlier this year are “not lawfully” in office, a judge ruled on Monday.

The officials — including the longtime mayor, who is part of the City Council, and three other council members — have remained in office since the April recall, arguing that it was unauthorized. The standoff has become one of the messiest recall battles in modern California history and a highly unusual case of election denialism.

Judge Jennifer Giuliani of Kings County Superior Court ruled Monday that the four City Council members “do not lawfully hold or exercise their respective offices” and that the positions have been “vacant” since the election results were certified on May 28.

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