By Daniel Stefanski |
Arizona Republicans on a House Oversight Committee have concluded their investigation of Attorney General Kris Mayes’ time in office and have recommended a course of action.
Earlier this week, the Arizona House Ad Hoc Committee on Executive Oversight released its comprehensive investigative report. The report found “that Attorney General Kris Mayes has abused power, neglected legal duties, and committed malfeasance in office.”
The summary of the report, which was transmitted to the Arizona Speaker of the House, recommended that “the House adopt a resolution impeaching Attorney General Mayes,.. scrutinize all appropriations made to the Attorney General’s Office, continue to exercise oversight over Attorney General Mayes’ abuses of office, and consider legislation in the next legislative session to strengthen and clarify Arizona laws aimed at preventing further weaponization of the Attorney General’s Office.”
According to a press release from Arizona House Republicans, the Committee made the following key findings in its 102-page report:
- Attorney General Mayes unjustifiably threatened the Mohave County Board of Supervisors with personal criminal and civil penalties if they voted against her wishes.
- Attorney General Mayes abused the legal system to attack her political opponents.
- Attorney General Mayes abused her power and authority under Arizona’s Consumer Fraud Act by issuing a consumer alert filled with deception, fraud, and misrepresentations about organizations providing health care service to women.
- Attorney General Mayes has misused public resources and town halls to threaten public nuisance lawsuits against farmers and advocate for ballot measures relating to groundwater use.
- Attorney General Mayes refused to defend state laws when challenged in court, including Arizona’s Save Women’s Sports Act.
- Attorney General Mayes hindered the Committee’s work by failing to timely produce records and information and refusing to explain her actions to the Committee.
State Representative Jacqueline Parker, the Chairwoman of the Committee issued a statement following her panel’s completed report, writing, “The people of Arizona deserve better from the state’s chief legal officer. I am deeply frustrated and disappointed by Attorney General Mayes’ lack of cooperation with our requests for more information and records concerning the many allegations that came to the Committee’s attention. I am also disappointed that none of my Democratic colleagues decided to participate whatsoever or learn about the proper role of the Attorney General under our state constitution. Despite the Attorney General’s lack of transparency with the Committee, we have seen and heard enough.”
Parker added, “I hope all House members will thoroughly review the Committee’s report and findings and agree to impeach Attorney General Mayes and consider other measures outlined in our report to prevent future weaponization of the AG’s office.”
Representative Joseph Chaplik, a Republican, agreed with the report, stating, “Kris Mayes is clearly abusing her power. I agree with the conclusions of my fellow caucus members and we should immediately move to impeach Kris Mayes in the Arizona House of Representatives. Her unethical and reckless conduct is a danger to all Arizonans.”
Democrats pushed back against the assertions and recommendations from the report. Governor Katie Hobbs posted, “Extremists in the legislature are playing partisan politics with this sham committee. They need to put an end to the political stunts and do their job.”
State Representative Nancy Gutierrez said, “AG Mayes has integrity and is doing her job. The republicans in the legislature can’t handle it, so they had a sham hearing and will need Dem support to get her out of office.”
Gutierrez also boasted about her lack of attendance for this committee’s “ridiculous” hearings. She accused Republicans of a “typical bait and switch – putting on a show to distract from HCR 2060 and taking away mail in voting.”
Another legislative Democrat, Representative Oscar De Los Santos weighed in on the release of the report, saying, “This kangaroo court’s hack-job report is politics at its worst. Attorney General Mayes has done a stellar job of protecting consumers, fighting for reproductive freedom, and defending our democracy from extremist criminals.”
A spokesperson for Mayes told a local reporter that “the investigative report released today by the sham House ad hoc oversight committee isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on. This partisan stunt by far-right members of the Legislature makes a mockery of real legislative oversight.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.