by Matthew Holloway | Apr 18, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine said statements by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes regarding a federal election investigation raise “valid concerns of obstruction of justice and witness tampering” in response to a referral from Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen.
In a letter dated April 14, Courchaine wrote that he had received Petersen’s correspondence and shared the Senate president’s desire “to work together across all levels of government to ensure fair and free elections.” Courchaine added that his office was “carefully reviewing the facts” surrounding communications from Mayes and Fontes regarding the investigation.
Courchaine wrote that statements from the attorney general and secretary of state “undermine the federal grand jury’s constitutionally enshrined right to investigate violations of federal law or ensure no such crime occurred.” He said the federal investigation is aimed at confirming that “only lawful citizens are registered and voting in federal elections” after state election officials disclosed registration errors that predated the 2024 election. Courchaine also wrote that the actions of the two state officials “raise valid concerns of obstruction of justice and witness tampering under Title 18 of the United States Code.”
Petersen first referred Mayes and Fontes to the U.S. Attorney’s Office on April 7, alleging that both officials attempted to interfere with a federal grand jury investigation tied to election records from the Arizona Senate’s 2021 review. Petersen accused the officials of obstruction of justice and witness tampering after they warned county election officials against complying with federal requests for election records.
According to Petersen’s referral letter, the Arizona Senate complied with a federal grand jury subpoena served by the FBI in March seeking records related to the 2020 election. Petersen said the Senate produced the records after obtaining a legal opinion from the law firm Snell & Wilmer, concluding that compliance with the subpoena was required under federal law. The legal opinion stated that refusing to comply with the subpoena could have exposed the Senate and state officials to sanctions and that attempts to interfere with compliance could potentially constitute obstruction of justice.
The Snell & Wilmer opinion cited by Petersen argued that federal grand jury subpoenas carry broad investigative authority and supersede conflicting state privacy laws under the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The opinion also stated that state laws cited by Mayes and Fontes did not excuse noncompliance with a federal subpoena and that federal courts have routinely compelled compliance despite state confidentiality statutes.
Petersen has argued that a March joint letter sent by Mayes and Fontes to county recorders, warning that compliance with certain federal requests could violate state and federal law, amounted to an attempt to interfere with the federal investigation. In those letters, the attorney general and the secretary of state advised county officials that disclosing certain voter registration records could be illegal under privacy protections in Arizona law.
Mayes previously responded to Petersen’s referral in a written statement, statingthat he “inexplicably remains an election denier six years later.”
Petersen is running in the Republican primary for Arizona Attorney General and, if nominated, would face Mayes in the 2026 General Election.
A Gray House poll of 400 likely Republican voters and 450 likely general election voters found that a majority of those polled for the primary are undecided, with Petersen leading at 15%, but when the sample group was briefed on candidate backgrounds, Petersen becomes the clear leader at 57% compared to single-digits for other GOP contenders.
In the general election, Petersen trails Mayes by just 2 points at 42% to 44%, bringing the race well within the poll’s 4.6% margin of error.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Staff Reporter | Apr 18, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The Maricopa County Superior Court has ruled that the leading independent gubernatorial candidate does qualify for the ballot.
Hugh Lytle, an independent under the No Labels Party, announced his victory on Wednesday. Lytle is a Scottsdale businessman: founder and managing partner of El Toro Ventures, founder and board member of Equality Health, co-founder and former CEO of Univita Health, and co-founder and former president of Axia Health.
“These legal tricks to find technicalities to keep an independent off the ballot is exactly why so many people have lost faith in our system,” said Lytle. “When someone even suggests putting people ahead of parties and special interests, the system tries to shut it down. But this time, it didn’t work.”
In a statement given to the media, Lytle claimed the legal challenge against him was rooted in Gov. Katie Hobbs feeling threatened by his candidacy. Lytle has claimed Hobbs was behind the lawsuit because her former chief legal advisor, Sambo “Bo” Dul, was one of the attorneys representing the case against him.
“The judge’s decision is not a personal win for me. It’s a win for the voters, for democracy and for Arizona’s growing Independent movement which gains momentum every day,” said Lytle. “Perhaps that’s why Gov. Hobbs is afraid to face me in an election.”
At contest was the validity of Lytle’s petition sheets, which used a UPS store address located in one district rather than his residential address located in a separate district. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Michael Mandell ruled that district locations didn’t matter for statewide races.
“Mr. Lytle is running for statewide office, not district, precinct, or municipal office. Both the UPS store address and his physical address are in Scottsdale,” stated Mandell. “There is no dispute that Mr. Lytle has been an Arizona resident for many years, that he resides in Maricopa County, and that he satisfies the constitutional and statutory residency requirements for Governor.”
Lytle faced multiple challenges to his candidacy, one from his primary opponent Teri Ann Hourihan, and another from a former Democratic Party legislative district leader, Craig Beckman.
Lytle pledged to not take any salary as governor. He announced his intent to donate his entire first-year salary as governor to Teen Lifeline, and then the remaining years to other charities.
The No Labels Party attempted to brand itself as the Arizona Independent Party with the help of Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, but the Maricopa County Superior Court ruled against the move as an unlawful “political bait and switch” last month.
There were 21 candidates who filed statements of interest under the No Labels Party, including three for governor (Lytle, Hourihanm and Alan White).
Lytle’s platform includes establishing a mentor corps for youth entrepreneurs, expanding state charity donation benefits, expanding tax deductibility and charity benefits to cover youth sports, increasing teacher pay, limiting school choice by income, and reducing Medicaid costs.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Apr 18, 2026 | Economy, News
By Ethan Faverino |
Small business optimism weakened in March as a sharp drop in reported profit trends and softening expectations for business conditions weighed on the outlook, according to the latest survey from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell 3 points to 95.8, slipping below its 52-year historical average of 98 for the first time since April 2025. At the same time, the Uncertainty Index rose 4 points to 92, significantly above its long-term average of 68.
“The 20% Small Business Deduction and other supportive small business tax provisions in the Working Families Tax Cut Act have had many positives for small business owners,” stated NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg. “However, the dramatic spike in oil prices has spooked consumers and owners alike. Small business owners are having to absorb those higher input costs and pass them along to their customers.”
Key Declines Drive the Drop in Optimism
The decline in the Optimism Index was driven primarily by two key components: the frequency of reports of positive profit trends, which plunged 11 points to a net negative 25%—the largest contributor to the overall drop—and the net percentage of owners expecting better business conditions, which fell 7 points to a net 11%, marking the third consecutive monthly decline and the lowest reading since October 2024.
Other notable movements included:
Employment Index – Fell from 103.5 to 101.6. While still above the 2025 average (101.2) and historical average (100), the 1.9-point decline signals moderation in labor market conditions.
Capital outlays – Only 16% of owners plan capital investments in the next six months, down 2 points and the lowest level since November 2009.
Sales – A net negative 5% reported higher nominal sales in the past three months (down 6 points), ending four months of improvement. Expectations for higher real sales volumes over the next quarter eased to a net 7%.
Inventory – Plans for inventory investment turned more cautious, reaching a net negative 5%, the lowest since May 2024.
Labor Market and Compensation Trends
Hiring activity showed signs of cooling. A seasonally adjusted 32% of owners reported job openings they could not fill (down 1 point), though this remains well above the historical average of 24%. Skilled worker openings stood at 27%, while unskilled openings rose slightly to 12%.
A net 12% of owners plan to create new jobs in the coming three months, unchanged from February and near the long-term average. Compensation pressures eased modestly: a net 33% reported raising compensation; plans to raise compensation in the next three months fell 4 points to a net 18%—the lowest since July 2025. Despite the declines, both actual and planned compensation remain above historical averages.
Pricing, Supply Chains, and Business Health
Actual price increases ticked up, with a net 25% of owners raising average selling prices (up 1 point and well above the historical average). Planned price hikes, however, declined 4 points to a net 24%. Supply chain disruptions affected 62% of owners to some degree (up 3 points), with most reporting only mild or moderate impacts.
When rating the overall health of their businesses, 13% called it “excellent” (up 1 point), 51% “good” (down 4 points), 30% “fair” (up 4 points), and 4% “poor” (down 1 point).
Top Business Problems and Credit Conditions
Taxes remained the single most important problem for 19% of owners (unchanged and still ranked #1), followed by labor quality at 15% (#2), and inflation at 14% (#3).
Credit conditions stayed relatively stable but tight. The net percent expecting easier credit held at negative 5%, while the average interest rate on short-term loans edged down to 7.9%. Only 24% of owners reported borrowing regularly, a historically low level. Just 11% viewed it as a good time to expand (down 4 points and below the historical average).
“Small business owners are certainly keeping a close eye on the price of oil,” added NFIB State Director Chad Heinrich. “As those cost pressures grow and Arizona’s officeholders dawdle on tax conformity, small businesses are doing everything they can to minimize price increases for their consumers and stay competitive. It’s essential that state policymakers give our small businesses certainty and fully conform with the provisions of the Working Families Tax Cut Act.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Apr 17, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
A former congressman says Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) was among those alleged to have engaged in well-known secret sexual romps at the nation’s capital.
New York’s former Republican congressman George Santos posted the accusation against Gallego to X on Monday.
Santos claimed that it was a regular practice for some U.S. House and Senate members to engage in “lewd or alleged sexual misconduct-like behavior with staff or reporters” in the House office buildings’ basement storage rooms, nicknamed “cages.”
A report to the House Administration Chair, Republican Wisconsin Rep. Bryan Steil, went nowhere, according to Santos.
“[O]ver the course of my time on Capitol Hill I learned a lot of members had rumors and or allegations against them,” said Santos. “[T]hese were rumors, and I wasn’t the only one to hear them. They were just instances where we would talk about them amongst ourselves and just shrug our shoulders because there was not much more we could do.”
Santos and Gallego had neighboring offices when their time in Congress overlapped. Their offices were connected by an internal door between the two.
The Santos allegation came out amid sexual assault and impropriety allegations against Eric Swalwell, the now-resigning California congressman who suspended his gubernatorial campaign.
Swalwell and Gallego were known “best friends” for years. The pair spent a significant amount of time together outside of their elected duties; extracurriculars per insiders included bar-hopping around D.C.
Gallego has not addressed the Santos allegation.
Santos’ claims have not been confirmed; the former congressman does have a prominent history of fabrication.
Santos himself was expelled from Congress following a House Ethics Committee investigation into allegations of fraud. Gallego was one of many from both parties to vote in favor of expulsion. Santos also faced a federal indictment; ultimately, he pleaded guilty to identity theft and fraud. President Donald Trump commuted Santos’ prison sentence last year.
The House Ethics Committee announced an investigation into Swalwell on Monday.
After the committee announcement, Gallego advocated for the expulsion of his former longtime friend from Congress. Gallego denied any prior knowledge of allegations of assault, harassment, or predatory behavior.
“I trusted someone who I believed was a friend, but it is now clear that he is not the person I thought I knew,” said Gallego. “The women who have come forward have shown courage. They deserve to be believed, to be supported, and to see justice served.”
That statement was “pure projection,” alleged Santos. The former congressman demanded another investigation, this time into Gallego.
The town attorney for Fountain Hills and former assistant attorney general, Jennifer Wright, said an investigative reporter needed to look into the allegation against Gallego.
Gallego revoked his gubernatorial endorsement of Swalwell last week shortly after the release of a report detailing sexual assault allegations against Swalwell.
Prior to the report, when the allegations were confined to rumors swirling the social media echo chamber, Gallego had initially come to Swalwell’s defense. Gallego dismissed those early allegations as politically motivated attacks.
AZ Free News reached out to Sen. Gallego regarding the accusations from George Santos. As of this report, no response has been received.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Apr 17, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona homeowners will receive expanded protection against deed and title fraud under Senate Bill 1479, which Gov. Katie Hobbs signed into law last week after it received unanimous support in the Arizona Senate.
The bipartisan legislation was sponsored by Arizona Senate Majority Whip Frank Carroll (R-LD28) and co-sponsored by Reps. Selina Bliss (R-LD1) and Patricia Contreras (D-LD12). The bill was also backed by Maricopa County Assessor Eddie Cook, Gov. Katie Hobbs, and Attorney General Kris Mayes.
SB 1479 establishes new requirements for recording property documents, creates a statewide alert system for property owners, increases criminal penalties for fraudulent filings, and repeals an Arizona law that critics said could allow forged deeds to become legally valid if left uncontested for five years.
According to Maricopa County officials, deed fraud is a growing concern nationwide. Fraudsters can use forged signatures and fraudulent documents to transfer property ownership or attempt to secure a loan against a home they do not own, sometimes before the actual owner becomes aware of the transfer.
In a February statement, Carroll said, “Property ownership is the cornerstone of financial security for families, seniors, and small businesses in Arizona. When criminals are able to forge documents, record false claims, or quietly transfer property without the rightful owner’s knowledge, it erodes trust in our entire system.”
According to the Phoenix Business Journal, a 2025 survey by the National Association of Realtors found that Arizonans lost nearly $50 million to real estate fraud in 2024.
“A home is often a family’s most important investment, both financially and emotionally,” Cook said in a statement. “Deed fraud robs people of far more than property; it steals their sense of security.”
Under the new law, anyone recording a document in person at a county recorder’s office will be required to provide photo identification, with exemptions for certain professionals, including escrow officers, attorneys, and financial institutions.
The legislation also requires county assessors to create an opt-in property alert system by Jan. 1, 2027. The system will notify homeowners whenever the ownership status of their property changes or when the mailing address associated with the property is changed.
SB 1479 also expands the information required on an Affidavit of Legal Value. Buyers and sellers will now be required to provide mailing addresses and phone numbers, while email addresses will remain optional.
The measure also increases the penalty for filing false property documents from a Class 1 misdemeanor to a Class 5 felony to reflect “the severity and financial harm caused by deed fraud,” according to a release from the County Assessor’s Office.
The bill also repeals Arizona Revised Statute §12-524, the law at issue in the Arizona Supreme Court case Dominguez v. Dominguez, a prominent forged deed dispute. Critics argued the law created a loophole under which a forged deed could become legally valid if it was not challenged within five years.
In addition, notaries will now be required to obtain a thumbprint in their journal for most deeds and real estate documents. Remote notarizations are exempt if video recordings verifying the signer’s identity are retained for at least seven years.
Cook said the Maricopa County Assessor’s Office began prioritizing deed fraud prevention in 2024 and hosted a seminar last year with county officials, industry representatives, and lawmakers to discuss the issue and develop legislative solutions.
Cook said the new law provides “the early alerts, verification safeguards, and legal teeth we need to stop criminals before harm is done.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Ethan Faverino | Apr 17, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Congressman Abraham Hamadeh (AZ-08) thanked his colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives for the unanimous passage of his legislation to rename the United States Postal Service facility at 12208 North 19th Avenue in Phoenix as the “Officer Zane T. Coolidge Post Office.”
The bill, H.R. 3393, honors Phoenix Police Officer Zane Coolidge, who was shot in the line of duty on September 3, 2024, while responding to a larceny call near 16th Street and McDowell Road. Despite the heroic efforts of medical personnel, Officer Coolidge succumbed to his injuries three days later, on September 6, 2024, at the age of 29.
Officer Coolidge, a devoted husband and loving father, was a dedicated public servant who made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting his community. The suspect in the shooting was a man with multiple felony convictions who was on parole at the time of his crime.
The post office selected for renaming holds special significance: it is located across the street from Thunderbird High School, where Officer Coolidge graduated in 2013.
“The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association is deeply grateful for Congressman Hamadeh’s leadership in honoring fallen Phoenix Police Officer Zane Coolidge through the renaming of a United States Post Office,” stated President of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association Darrell Kriplean. “Officer Coolidge represented the very best of our profession and made the ultimate sacrifice in service to his community. This designation serves as a lasting and meaningful tribute to his life, his service, and his legacy, while reflecting our community’s enduring respect for those who serve.”
“We also extend our sincere appreciation to Congressman Hamadeh for his continued commitment to law enforcement,” continued Kriplean. “His steadfast advocacy helps ensure that officers across Arizona have the support and resources necessary to protect and serve their communities.”
Congressman Hamadeh stated, “Officer Coolidge was a husband, brother, son, and father who died a hero. A true public servant, he sacrificed his life to fulfill his duty to protect and serve. Naming this facility in honor of Officer Coolidge is a small token of the tremendous appreciation we have for him and the countless men and women who have given our communities their last full measure of devotion.”
“I am proud to stand with the men and women of our police agencies. They deserve our full support and devotion,” concluded Congressman Hamadeh. “The sacrifice they and their families make to keep our communities free from crime is immeasurable and not to be taken for granted.”
This action will serve as a permanent memorial to Officer Coolidge’s service, sacrifice, and deep connection to the Phoenix community where he grew up and served.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
