Another week brought another near-record number of apprehensions in the Tucson Sector of the southern border.
Late last week, John Modlin, the Chief Patrol Agent of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Tucson Sector, announced that his agents had encountered 18,400 illegal aliens over the past seven days. The new number from Chief Modlin clocked in at just 500 fewer migrants than the previous week, which was regarded as historic for the sector.
The revelation from Chief Modlin came just one day following Governor Katie Hobbs’ announcement that she was mobilizing members of Arizona’s National Guard to the border near Lukeville. Hobbs made sure to point fingers at the federal government in her news alert, saying, “The crisis at the border is unacceptable. We need the federal government to step up, do its job, and bring security and stability to the border. I will continue to work with anyone who can help us bring an end to this mess.”
The crisis at the border is unacceptable. We need the federal government to step up, do its job, and bring security and stability to the border. I will continue to work with anyone who can help us bring an end to this mess.
Ali Bradley, a National Correspondent for NewsNation, shared a prediction that largely due to the record-number of apprehensions occurring in the Tucson sector, the total arrests for December across the entire southern border “is on track to blow November encounter numbers out of the water.”
NEW: CBP sources confirm December is on track to blow November encounter numbers out of the water:
167k for the first 17 days of December. 130k for the first 17 days of November.
The Tucson sector is leading the charge and is seeing the most people showing up there to self… pic.twitter.com/PMQSA6CWxo
In the Arizona Senate Republicans’ latest Week in Review, Senate President Warren Petersen addressed the crisis at the border, saying, “Every week, we continue to have human smugglers, murders, rapists, drug dealers, child sex traffickers, and terrorists entering our state, as record-breaking numbers of illegals cross our border. Biden has sent a message to the entire world that our southern border is wide open, and this is the consequence. Meanwhile, the closure of the Lukeville Port of Entry continues to impact trade, tourism, and the daily lives of Arizonans who live in these rural parts of the state. We need resources and funding sent to the border now, and we call on President Biden to act immediately. The U.S. Supreme Court has made it clear that the border is the responsibility of the Federal Government, therefore our hands are tied in many areas when it comes to the border.”
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Petersen also highlighted an area where the legislature and governor could take action together to help mitigate the crisis, writing, “But, if the Federal Government isn’t going to step up or enforce existing law, then we need a law allowing states to enforce immigration policy and deport those entering Arizona illegally.”
Despite Hobbs’ efforts to be perceived as taking the border crisis seriously, she is unlikely to work with Petersen and his Republican colleagues on such a proposed law.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
State Rep. Alex Kolodin (R-LD03) and Allyson Miller, former Pima County supervisor, filed a bar complaint against the Cochise County attorney, Brian McIntyre, on Monday.
Kolodin and Miller accused McIntyre of violating Rule 1.6, attorney-client privilege, for revealing privileged advice given to the Cochise County Board of Supervisors in connection with handling the 2022 election results.
The board considered a post-election hand count audit last year; during a public meeting, McIntyre revealed that he’d advised the board against the audit. Kolodin and Miller said the revelation amounted to a violation of attorney-client privilege.
Following the lawsuit against the supervisors — his clients — over the audit, McIntyre also sent a letter to their counsel disclosing a list of laws he believed the supervisors potentially violated. Kolodin and Miller asserted that McIntyre’s letter was unnecessary, crafted in a way to provide legal analysis, and used by the media to the detriment of the supervisors.
For these actions, the pair also accused McIntyre of violating Rules 1.1, requiring competent representation of a client; 1.7, 1.8, and 1.9, prohibiting conflict of interest; and 3.8(f), requiring behavior to promote public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the legal system.
“It is time for equal justice under law,” posted Kolodin on X.
This AM @SupervisorAlly and I filed an election-related bar complaint against Cochise Co. Atty Brian McIntyre for apparent violations of the atty/client privilege – his most sacred duty. It is time for equal justice under law. pic.twitter.com/2iPjSVonaO
The complaint comes shortly after the bar put Kolodin on 18 months of probation for representing those challenging the 2020 election results. The State Grand Jury indicted Cochise County Supervisors Peggy Judd and Tom Crosby last month over the 2022 audit controversy, which resulted in a delay of the statewide canvass.
Kolodin says he filed the complaint in order to ensure the equal application of ethical standards, regardless of political alignment.
In a statement to AZ Free News, Kolodin said that McIntyre’s actions were deserving of scrutiny and, if applicable, discipline.
“Equal justice under law is a foundational legal principle,” said Kolodin. “Regardless of the policy preferences we advocate for, the law must be fairly and neutrally applied.”
Miller told AZ Free News that McIntyre should’ve done better to protect the supervisors by handling privileged legal information through an executive session. Miller opined that McIntyre abandoned the supervisors.
“He doesn’t have a right to be a judge,” said Miller.
The former supervisor also asserted that Judd and Crosby abided by the statutory deadline on canvassing, since they certified on Dec. 1 and state law imposes a deadline of the fourth Monday following the general election — or, Dec. 5 — for certification. The statute also allows for the canvass to be postponed “from day to day” for up to 30 days from Election Day until all counties submit their canvasses.
“If the official canvass of any county has not been received on the fourth Monday following the general election, the canvass shall be postponed from day to day, not to exceed thirty days from the date of the election, until canvasses from all counties are received,” reads A.R.S. 16-648(c).
Miller said she felt every official in the state should sign onto their complaint, surmising that McIntyre’s actions set a dangerous precedent for counsel to undermine officials based on political reasons.
“You have a right to be represented in the discharge of your duty,” said Miller.
Kolodin and Miller’s bar complaint prompted a flurry of online commentary from Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ-09), who applauded the bar complaint against McIntyre. Gosar pointed out that no Democrat-aligned lawyers were sanctioned under 2000 or 2016 election challenges.
The unfounded attacks on @KariLake lawyers and @realAlexKolodin is unprecedented. Not 1 dem lawyer was sanctioned for frivolous legal filings in FL in 2000 or WI, MI or PA in 2016 where dems spent $7.4 MILLION in recount lawsuits in those states & lost every suit. (3/4) https://t.co/QC8e5yj3ho
Gosar portrayed Kolodin as one of a class of lawyers punished for representing causes and individuals “disfavored by the regime,” a hallmark of autocracy according to the congressman.
“This form of oppression is well documented by autocrats desperate [to] stop any challenge [to] their legitimacy,” said Kolodin.
@realAlexKolodin The assault on lawyers willing 2 rep causes & people disfavored by the regime in power is reaching dangerous levels in AZ & across the country. This form of oppression is well documented by autocrats desperate 2 stop any challenge 2 their legitimacy. (1/4) https://t.co/QC8e5yj3ho
Arizona State University’s (ASU) former information technology (IT) manager was indicted for embezzling over $124,000 from the institution over the course of over four years.
According to the auditor general, ASU leadership was partially at fault for the embezzlement.
Carlos Urrea, ASU’s former University Technology Officer (UTO) manager, allegedly embezzled the money through unauthorized personal purchases using his ASU purchase card. (The UTO is now the Enterprise Technology Office). ASU reported their findings on Urrea to the auditor general for further investigation.
In a report published last Friday, the auditor general found that Urrea used his purchase card to make over 800 personal purchases amounting to over $124,000. Urrea then attempted to conceal the purchases using over 700 forged receipts and falsified the business purpose descriptions to make them appear as if they were for valid ASU purposes.
According to the auditor general report, an ASU audit in December 2021 revealed discrepancies between Urrea’s receipts and the issuing bank’s line-item details of the purchases. Urrea reportedly refused to comply repeatedly with further auditory efforts by the university. At the time, ASU found over $95,000 of unauthorized personal purchases made by Urrea.
Upon further investigation by the auditor general, the amount Urrea allegedly embezzled grew by over $28,000.
Among those unauthorized purchases were gift cards, including $11,000 in Costco Shop cards; electronics and accessories, including 10 smart watches; household items and furniture, including two Christmas trees; appliances, including a washer and dryer; gaming products, including 12 gaming consoles; fitness and recreation items, including a treadmill and a rowing machine; and warranties.
The auditor general reported that Urrea admitted to using the ASU purchase card for personal purchases. Urrea told the auditor general team that he used ASU’s Adobe Acrobat Editor software to alter his personal purchase receipts in PDF format.
Urrea also reportedly called his actions “very dumb,” and characterized the purchases as his means of providing for his family.
According to the State Presssalary database for ASU, Urrea made $45,000 in 2016, $75,000 in 2017, $77,250 in 2018, $92,700 in 2019, $100,116 in 2020, and $106,000 in 2021.
According to the auditor general, ASU revealed that its executive administration officials allowed Urrea to bypass appropriate university policies and procedures for purchase cards so that Urrea could either provide immediate IT-related equipment or maintain his support for senior leadership. As a result, Urrea was exempted from engaging in the procurement process, obtaining prior purchase approval, submitting detailed business purpose descriptions for purchases, submitting receipts on time, and bypassing restricted spending protocols when receipts were submitted late.
“Mr. Urrea was able to make and conceal his personal p-card purchases because management allowed him to: use his p-card instead of procurement process on the pretext of providing immediate support to senior leadership, make p-card purchases without seeking prior approval, submit vague business purposes, [and] submit p-card receipts 2-3 months late without restricting his p-card spending to $1 in accordance with policy,” stated the report.
The auditor general noted that ASU modified its purchase card policy by requiring executive administration adherence where possible, or requiring the business team — not individuals — to make purchases where not possible.
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office passed on the auditor general’s findings to the Maricopa County Superior Court Grand Jury. The latter indicted Urrea on 14 felony counts of theft, misuse of public monies, fraudulent schemes, and forgery.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
With the start of the 2024 Arizona legislative session just weeks away, Republicans took time this week to roll out their agenda for the upcoming months in a divided state government.
The plan, released by the Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus on Thursday, featured eleven categories for 2024 – budget approach, inflation relief, law enforcement & military, education, water, infrastructure, health, government, judiciary, elections, and litigation. The caucus looked back at the year that was in 2023, writing, “Senate Republicans unified in the face of divided government, passed a fiscally conservative and responsible budget historically early in the legislative session, provided inflation relief, funded critical infrastructure projects, protected school choice, and served as a check on executive and federal overreach.”
The 2024 Arizona State Senate Majority Plan is now available!
Here are our caucus priorities, positioning and approach on important issues for the upcoming session.
Senate Republicans also previewed their efforts for the next legislative session in the plan, stating that they would “remain laser focused on easing the burden of rising costs for our citizens, while continuing to stop dangerous California-style policies from being implemented in the Grand Canyon State.” They added that they would “remain unified in protecting freedoms and constitutional rights, advocating for family values and safe communities, promoting free market principles and limited government, and stopping radical ideologies from infiltrating the way of life and opportunities we’ve established over the past decade for all Arizonans.”
‘Unified’ was definitely a key theme Senate Republicans wanted readers to take away from their plan for 2024, as it was central to a successful 2023 despite razor-thin majorities in both legislative chambers and a Democrat in the Governor’s Office. Republicans in both the Arizona House and Senate were highly disciplined on a number of fronts throughout the 2023 legislative session, staying unified on almost every issue while relentlessly fighting for conservative principles. Because of their cohesive strategies, Republicans were able to gain major victories and concessions from Governor Katie Hobbs when it mattered most, as well as to win points with the general public for their work.
2024 promises to be a more challenging year for legislative Republicans. Hobbs will be starting her second year on the job and has a new chief of staff who is respected by many on both sides of the aisle. Hobbs will also be looking for more wins to showcase for her base in what will certainly be a volatile election year on all levels. The governor was soundly criticized by many in her party for, what appeared to be, a capitulation to Republicans over the most-recent budget compromise – especially when it came to Arizona’s historic school choice program. Hobbs spent the rest of the year taking critical and damaging aim at ESAs.
Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope cheered on the plan, saying, “Honored to be a part of the Arizona Senate Republicans family! We will work hard to deliver for the hard working people of Arizona!”
Senator Anthony Kern shared similar sentiments: “Republicans have your back, Arizona, and will ensure State 48 ‘NEVER’ looks like Democrat controlled California!!”
Republicans have your back, Arizona, and will ensure State 48 "NEVER" looks like Democrat controlled California!! https://t.co/dZAAnuYEuf
Arizona’s schools chief is continuing his quest to make state schools safer.
Last week, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne released a number of recommendations from his administration’s task force meant to strengthen school safety.
Superintendent Horne said, “The safety of our schools is of the utmost importance. There is no greater nightmare than to contemplate a maniac shooting up a school and it’s essential that everything is done to increase campus safety. This committee has done remarkable work and now the task is to get these proposed changes implemented so we can make the state’s school safety program even stronger.”
A handful of the recommendations from the task force involve changing state laws, which the Arizona Legislature would have to approve through legislation and then the governor would have to sign. Those changes are as follows:
Removing barriers to allowing retired law enforcement officers to work as School Resource Officers.
Allowing for the school safety program to pay for School Safety Officers and school psychologists in addition to the other positions currently included in the program.
Adding increased mental health training to focus on adolescent mental health issues, education privacy law and civil rights matters.
Adding language to the law requiring attention to school architecture, ingress and egress and safety technology and training.
The task force also recommended steps for the Arizona Department of Education to enact within its statutory responsibilities, including the following:
Reviewing and providing additional safety training and materials.
Hosting an annual conference for educators, law enforcement and mental health professionals.
Pursuing partnerships with entities that can help encourage workforce development in the social work and mental health sectors.
According to Horne’s office, his task force “consists of educators, legislators, representatives of mental health professions, law enforcement, and other community leaders.”
With the next legislative session just weeks away, the recommendations from the school safety task force may come at a perfect time to put the issue in front of lawmakers returning to work in January. Since school safety is a priority of Horne and his administration, he and his team will surely be lobbying for these changes and attempting to work with legislators from both sides of the aisle as they attempt to keep Arizona boys and girls safe at their schools.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Three of Arizona’s Democratic state lawmakers convened for a strategy session on gun control with Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday.
State Reps. Jennifer Longdon (D-LD05), Analise Ortiz (D-LD24), and Stephanie Stahl Hamilton (D-LD21) were invited to participate in the Biden administration’s inaugural Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP) and Safer States Agenda. The trio declared in a press release that gun violence constituted a public health crisis that required immediate intervention.
“Despite overwhelming public support to act, Republicans in the legislative majority have consistently refused to hear any efforts to reduce gun violence,” said the trio. “Reps. Ortiz, Longdon and Stahl Hamilton said now is the time to redouble efforts to overcome Republican intransigence, not step back from a public health crisis.”
The Safer States Agenda proposed a series of progressive, state-led initiatives: establishing an office of gun violence prevention in every state; investing in community violence intervention programs; funding community policing initiatives; implementing lethal means safety measures such as off-site storage sites and Extreme Risk Protection Orders (also called “red flag laws”); establishing victims services and trauma recovery centers for gun violence survivors; establishing a gun violence crisis response team; implementing stricter firearm storage laws; requiring reporting of lost and stolen firearms; confiscating firearms from domestic abusers; requiring universal and enhanced background checks; banning assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and ghost guns; requiring gun dealer licensing, recordkeeping, information sharing, and physical security; and end gun manufacturer’s immunity from liability.
President Joe Biden established OGVP in September and appointed Harris to oversee it. Ortiz, Longdon, and Stahl Hamilton were three among 100 state lawmakers from across the nation invited to strategize with OGVP.
Today, I met with more than 100 state legislators and gun safety advocates to share policy solutions in our continued work to prevent gun violence.
We have the answers. We must continue to lead with courage and act to save lives. pic.twitter.com/sEpYj0DRCj
After Wednesday’s meeting, Harris said that the proposed gun control measures wouldn’t conflict with the Second Amendment.
“It is a false choice to suggest that we have to choose between either upholding the Second Amendment or passing commonsense gun safety legislation,” said Harris. “Congress must have the courage to act, but until they do, the states must lead the way.”
It is a false choice to suggest that we have to choose between either upholding the Second Amendment or passing commonsense gun safety legislation.
I am for the Second Amendment. I am also for an assault weapons ban, universal background checks, and red flag laws.
The Department of Justice also published two model pieces of legislation to require stricter firearms storage and mandatory reporting of lost or stolen firearms.
The director of OGVP, Stefanie Feldman, was Biden’s longtime policy director dating back to the president’s first term as vice president under former President Barack Obama. While Donald Trump was president, Feldman served as the policy director for the Biden Institute.
One of the deputy directors of OGVP, Gregory Jackson, formerly directed the Community Justice Action Fund: a nonprofit focused on gun control and criminal justice reform, and a project of the dark money network offshoot, Tides Advocacy. The other deputy director, Rob Wilcox, formerly led federal policy for Everytown For Gun Safety, the gun control organization founded by major Democratic donor Michael Bloomberg.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
