Arizona’s chief law enforcement officer announced a legal action over the 2022 election, angering some of the state’s legislative Republicans.
On Wednesday, Attorney General Kris Mayes revealed that “the State Grand Jury has returned an indictment charging Peggy Suzanne Judd and Terry Thomas ‘Tom’ Crosby with the felony offenses of Interference with an Election Officer and Conspiracy.”
.@AZAGMayes today announced that the State Grand Jury has returned an indictment charging Peggy Suzanne Judd of Willcox, and Terry Thomas “Tom” Crosby of Sierra Vista, with the felony offenses of Interference with an Election Officer and Conspiracy. https://t.co/JUGP6aMYag
In a statement issued in conjunction with the announcement, Mayes said, “The repeated attempts to undermine our democracy are unacceptable. I took an oath to uphold the rule of law, and my office will continue to enforce Arizona’s elections laws and support our election officials as they carry the duties and responsibilities of their offices.”
The repeated attempts to undermine our democracy are unacceptable. I took an oath to uphold the rule of law, and my office will continue to enforce Arizona’s elections laws and support our election officials as they carry out the duties and responsibilities of their offices. https://t.co/boKPiNtiUi
According to the indictment, Judd and Crosby are alleged to have “conspired to delay the canvass of votes cast in Cochise County in the November 2022 General Election,” and to have “knowingly interfered with the Arizona Secretary of State’s ability to complete the statewide canvass for the 2022 General Election.”
Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs cheered on the indictments, posting, “To give Arizonans the free & fair elections they deserve, we must hold those who seek to undermine our democracy accountable. Thank you, AG Mayes, for protecting our democracy & enforcing the law without fear or favor.”
To give Arizonans the free & fair elections they deserve, we must hold those who seek to undermine our democracy accountable.
Republican lawmakers were not as complimentary toward Mayes. Arizona State Senator Jake Hoffman issued a lengthy statement, attacking the decision and the process for these indictments, calling it “a disgusting weaponization of the AZ Attorney General’s office.” Hoffman said that “this is ELECTION INTERFERERNCE by an extremist AG who wants to chill any future efforts by local election officials to challenge potentially inaccurate elections.” He predicted that these indictments would set a precedent that would be used against other local officials and encouraged Arizona County Supervisors to “leverage every tool you have at your disposal to make it clear to the entire AG’s office that weaponizing Arizona’s government has harsh consequences.”
Democrat Kris Mayes is engaged in a disgusting weaponization of the AZ Attorney General’s office.
Make no mistake, this is ELECTION INTERFERENCE by an extremist AG who wants to chill any future efforts by local election officials to challenge potentially inaccurate elections.… pic.twitter.com/NK6GqKGoIH
Both Senator Anthony Kern and Representative Jacqueline Parker threatened Mayes with impeachment for these indictments.
The @AZHouseGOP absolutely should get on this. I wonder which Republican(s) are too cosy with Mayes to defend the Constitution against clearly partisan attacks…? 🤔 Time will tell. https://t.co/apdxMN8Vxu
Parker also broached the idea of indicting other County Supervisors around the state to ensure “equal treatment under the law in AZ.”
If Mayes wants to get all righteous about election integrity, there are A LOT of other BOS members who need to be indicted as well. Or do we NOT have equal treatment under the law in AZ? https://t.co/4oMMsRJmPE
On the other side of the aisle, Democrat Representative Oscar De Los Santos praised the action, writing, “A grand jury of everyday Arizonans has indicted two MAGA politicians for conspiring to prevent the certification of a free and fair election. Criminals who conspire to undermine our democratic republic and the rule of law must be prosecuted to the fullest extent.”
A grand jury of everyday Arizonans has indicted two MAGA politicians for conspiring to prevent the certification of a free and fair election.
Criminals who conspire to undermine our democratic republic and the rule of law must be prosecuted to the fullest extent. https://t.co/FSWDcNjl76
These Cochise County indictments from the State Grand Jury may be the start of Mayes’ actions against Republicans on the election front. The Democrat Attorney General is believed to be progressing in her investigation over the presidential alternate electors from the Arizona Republican Party in 2020. Not much is known about this investigation or the timeline for any possible indictments, but legal action over this matter would undoubtedly create an exponentially greater firestorm with Republicans than the expressed outrage over the Cochise County indictments.
The growing dispute between the Republican-led legislature and Attorney General’s Office could have major implications for the state’s budget negotiations in 2024. Earlier this year, Attorney General Mayes expressed disappointment over the lack of resources appropriated to her office in the compromise between legislative Republicans and Governor Hobbs. At the time, Mayes said, “Today, we see a budget proposal moving forward that appears to be politically expedient for a few, but wholly inadequate for the majority of people in our state.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Arizona’s leading Democrat continues to push for a constitutional amendment to allow abortion in the state.
On Tuesday, Governor Katie Hobbs took to her personal “X” account to announce that she had signed a petition to send an abortion initiative to the 2024 ballot.
Today, I joined Arizonans across the political spectrum and added my name to support the ballot measure to enshrine a right to abortion in our state’s constitution. As a domestic violence advocate, as a mother, and as governor, I will always defend Arizonans’ freedoms pic.twitter.com/eaj6K9dwTI
Hobbs said, “Today, I joined Arizonans across the political spectrum and added my name to support the ballot measure to enshrine a right to abortion in our state’s constitution. As a domestic violence advocate, as a mother, and as governor, I will always defend Arizonans’ freedoms.”
The governor then shared a link to the group’s (Arizona for Abortion Access) page to garner more awareness for increased signatures across the state.
This wasn’t the first time that Hobbs had weighed in to support the initiative. Back in August, she posted, “As a lifelong advocate for Arizonans’ reproductive freedom, I’m thrilled that we will have the opportunity to make our voices heard next November. Once and for all, we will make clear that the government should not have a say in women’s personal healthcare decisions.”
As a lifelong advocate for Arizonans’ reproductive freedom, I’m thrilled that we will have the opportunity to make our voices heard next November. Once and for all, we will make clear that the government should not have a say in women's personal healthcare decisions.…
Arizona for Abortion Access has until July 3, 2024, to gather 383,923 valid signatures to refer this initiative to the November 2024 ballot. If successful, the initiative would amend the state’s constitution to install abortion as a right in Arizona.
Earlier this year, one of Arizona’s top pro-life leaders, Cathi Herrod from the Center for Arizona Policy, came out in fierce opposition to these efforts, alerting her followers that this measure “would tear down virtually all pro-life precautions and make it nearly impossible to regulate abortion.” Herrod also explained how, if passed, the constitutional amendment would likely allow the likelihood of abortion at all stages of life in the womb, stating, “The broad exemption of ‘mental health’ of the mother after viability is widely understood, even in the courts, to mean virtually anything the abortion provider wants it to mean, including stress or anxiety. Even barbaric partial-birth abortion is legal under this exemption.”
Arizona for Abortion Access lists endorsements from the ACLU of Arizona, Affirm Sexual and Reproductive Health, Healthcare Rising Arizona, Arizona List, NARAL Arizona, and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, on its website.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
A major U.S. Border Patrol sector’s social media communication about the ongoing crisis on the ground has gone dark.
Last week, John R. Modlin, the Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Tucson Sector, posted to “X” that his sector’s “social media accounts will be paused until further notice in light of the ongoing migration surge.” Chief Modlin expressed his appreciation for viewers’ “understanding and continued support during this challenging time.”
NEW: The Border Patrol’s Tucson sector has “paused” its social media accounts due to “an ongoing migration surge” pic.twitter.com/NiBwI6qSdG
The post from Chief Modlin garnered significant attention – and subsequent outrage – as individuals opined on the reasons for the stoppage of the flow of weekly information from this sector on these accounts. Chief Modlin appeared to delete his post later, adding an update, writing, “Apologies for my earlier hastily written statement. To be clear, it is my intention to remain transparent.”
Apologies for my earlier hastily written statement. To be clear, it is my intention to remain transparent. pic.twitter.com/mktMFT8S5U
Chief Modlin explained that “in light of the ongoing migration surge, all Tucson Sector Border Patrol social media accounts will be temporarily reduced to maximize our available staffing in support of our current operational challenges. At this time, all available personnel are needed to address the unprecedented flow. The social media team will return once the situation permits.”
In light of the ongoing migration surge, all Tucson Sector Border Patrol social media accounts will be temporarily reduced to maximize our available staffing in support of our current operational challenges.
The CBP leader did reveal that his sector would “continue to post our Week in Review statistics, demonstrating the continued efforts of our agents and staff.”
We will continue to post our Week in Review statistics, demonstrating the continued efforts of our agents and staff.
The Tucson Border Sector has long been one of the nation’s most dangerous along the U.S.-Mexico boundary due to the proliferation of deadly drugs (such as fentanyl) and ‘gotaways.’ However, in the latter half of this year, this sliver of the border has become the busiest sector in more ways, attracting tens of thousands of individuals who are apprehended by agents. Chief Modlin’s regular posts on the work Tucson agents have done to triage the happenings on the ground have been extremely instructive for outsiders and stakeholders to understand the breadth of the crisis that continues to be exploited and exponentially grow with each passing month.
In the first month of Fiscal Year 2024, October, this sector reported over 55,000 encounters of illegal immigrants, which was a 140.8% increase over the previous year’s numbers for that month (22,938). Tucson Sector Officials recorded almost 374,000 arrests during the recently completed fiscal year.
These numbers, already significantly high for a portion of the U.S.-Mexico border, do not represent the number of ‘gotaways’ escaping detection and making their way around the interior of America’s homeland. Nor do these figures fill in another major gap of the border crisis, which is the rampant drug smuggling that occurs all throughout the border – but especially in the Tucson sector. Drug cartels and smugglers occupy the time of border agents with thousands of arrests per day, while running drugs and ‘gotaways’ through other unmanned corridors. These dangerous factors of the porous border continue to haunt law enforcement at all levels as they attempt to do everything they can to protect innocent men, women, and children from harm.
The skyrocketing numbers from the Tucson sector make it all the more important for government officials and agents on the ground to be as transparent as possible about the handling of this crisis.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
An Arizona lawmaker was recognized for her efforts on behalf of law enforcement this past legislative session.
On Tuesday, the Arizona House Republicans Conference announced that freshman State Representative Selina Bliss “was recently honored by the Arizona Constable Association for her dedicated efforts in support of Arizona constables.” Those efforts included the sponsoring of HB 2617 in 2023, which would have fixed “a disparity in current state law whereby retired constables have more extensive carry rights and protections than their active-duty counterparts.”
✅FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE✅ State Representative @SelinaBliss Recognized by Arizona Constable Association for Advocacy on Behalf of Constables
“It is an honor to champion our law enforcement and peace officers in Arizona.”
In a statement, Bliss said, “It is an honor to champion our law enforcement and peace officers in Arizona. HB2617 reflects our commitment to ensuring that constables, as essential members of our law enforcement community, are afforded the necessary privileges and protections to carry out their duties effectively. This bipartisan effort reflects our collective dedication to strengthening public safety and supporting those who are sworn to serve and protect on the front lines.”
The honor from the Arizona Constable Association follows one given earlier this year to Bliss from the Arizona Citizens Defense League, which named the Republican Representative from northern Arizona as its “Legislator of the Year.”
Representative Bliss wasted no time in coming to the legislature and working to achieve results for her constituents and Arizonans. Bliss introduced HB 2617, which would have “allowed a constable or deputy constable to carry a firearm, both on and off duty and in the same manner as other certified peace officers, if the constable or deputy constable is in compliance with the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST) firearms requirements and has fulfilled all other requirements as prescribed.” The first-term legislator told AZ Free News that she had introduced the bill after learning from her own Yavapai County Constable Ron Williams “that constables and deputy constables are not part of the list in ARS 38-1113, which covers off-duty carry of firearms by peace officers.”
Even though the legislation passed out of the State House with broad bipartisan support on May 15, Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed the bill four days later. In the governor’s veto letter to House Speaker Ben Toma, Hobbs said, “I am concerned that this bill would have expanded the authority of constables to carry a gun while off-duty whereby some constables may choose to view themselves as having a ‘duty to respond’ when they are off duty.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Arizona’s Education Department is attempting to engage the state’s children in a greater awareness and appreciation of American citizenship.
Earlier this month, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne revealed that the Arizona Department of Education would be conducting a “drawing, painting, and poster contest celebrating Citizenship.”
In a statement accompanying the news release, Horne said, “I am a strong proponent of the Six Pillars of Character which are, Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship. I am very pleased to announce this contest promoting Citizenship, which emphasizes volunteering, cooperation, being informed and voting, knowing and obeying laws, choosing to protect the safety and rights of others and doing your share to make your home and community better.”
According to the Department, there will be two tiers to the contest: K-8 students “who can create a drawing, painting or poster that conveys the trait of Citizenship,” and high school students who “create a poster that supports character values on social media using the good Citizenship pillar.” The contest is open to all Arizona K-12 students in district, charter, private, and home schools, and the deadline to turn in submissions is at the end of the year, December 31.
The Department also offers a Character Education Matching Grant, which is made available to “any public or charter school that teaches a character education curriculum pursuant to section 15-719.” Programs are expected to include a minimum of six of the following ‘character’ attributes: attentiveness, caring, citizenship, compassion, diligence, discernment, fairness, forgiveness, generosity, gratefulness, initiative, integrity, obedience, orderliness, respect, responsibility, sincerity, trustworthiness, virtue, and wisdom.
The Republican schools chief is a strong advocate for Arizona’s emphasis on character education training in schools. He noted, “I believe every school in Arizona should be using the Six Pillars of Character program to help students understand these basic characteristics that, when followed, result in students having overall strong character and classrooms that have students who respect others. This is foundational for a healthy society.”
There will be a ‘Character Education Celebration Event’ in January, where the winners of this new contest will be honored.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
