by Matthew Holloway | Jul 18, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Robert Warshaw, the court-appointed monitor over the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), found himself challenged by Republican state and county-elected officials and over 100 attendees at a community forum with Sheriff Jerry Sheridan on Wednesday night.
GOP leaders, including Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Thomas Galvin, Supervisor Debbie Lesko, gubernatorial candidate Karrin Taylor Robson, and Maricopa County Republican Committee First Vice Chair Shelby Busch, joined the meeting with a large group of supporters of the Sheriff’s Office. The group demanded an accounting from Warshaw for the $311 million in taxpayer dollars spent over the past 11 years on the court-mandated monitoring in the racial profiling case Melendres v. Arpaio.
Supervisor Galvin shared a series of posts to X, laying out the case presented by Lesko and himself. He wrote, “Last night Supervisor @DebbieLesko gave eloquent speech at Maricopa County’s west valley meeting on federal oversight of MCSO[:] *$350 million in costs since 2007[,] *Compliance goalposts keep moving[,] *Monitor paid $2.9M last year[,] *4 sheriffs have served since lawsuit filed[.]”
“Maricopa County pays for these meetings, with taxpayer dollars, and thanks to all who showed up to participate in the public process. High turnout at any public meeting is always a good thing!”
Supervisor Mark Stewart shared video of Galvin’s remarks, initially posted by Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, suggesting a concerted effort by the Board of Supervisors and County Attorney’s Office to pushback against the Melendres ruling.
Stewart wrote, “The time to end this decade long oversight. The men and women of the @mcsoaz Sheriffs office deserve recognition as a top tier law enforcement organization. The taxpayers expect their hard earned tax dollars to be invested in their safety. Thank you @Rachel1Mitchell for speaking out and to Chairman @ThomasGalvin for leading this effort.”
During his remarks Galvin quipped, “Mr. Warshaw, you’re a tough man to find! In fact, this is the first time we’ve met.”
Mitchell described the scene in a post writing, “@ThomasGalvin speaking truth to the federal monitor—oversight of our elected sheriff has cost Maricopa taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.”
Brandon Hiller, Chief of Staff to the Maricopa County Attorney, shared an image of Warshaw resting his head on his hand during the proceedings, which reportedly became raucous at times. He wrote, “The federal monitor was not pleased with all the support for @JerrySheridan24 and @mcsoaz. Time to end the court orders. 350 million dollars later… 30 million to the federal monitor alone…”
According to KJZZ, the overall cost to the Maricopa County taxpayers to meet the ruling’s 360 requirements for the agency, related to traffic stops and internal affairs, is projected to reach $350 million this year. Warshaw told the audience that the reforms ordered by Judge Snow are not complete yet.
“This agency has made a lot of progress. A lot of progress. We’ll get to the money in a second,” Warshaw told the forum. “Is this thing going to go on forever? No, no, no.”
The monitor told attendees that an independent firm recently did a traffic-stop study of the Sheriff’s Office and found that the bias alleged in Melandres has continued and that oversight will only end after the Sheriff’s Office complies. Warshaw said that the MCSO is still facing a major backlog of internal misconduct investigations, required to be resolved within 180 days with many exceeding that timeline. Warshaw’s most recent report indicated that the department is in “full and effective compliance” with 92% of the 360 requirements in Judge Snow’s order while the misconduct investigation backlog “remains one of the biggest hurdles affecting MCSO’s ability to reach overall completion.”
Lesko was unconvinced however, and said, “I ask the judge, the federal monitor, (and) all the stakeholders to please end this madness.”
Many critics cited the cost of the federal monitoring as their chief concern. Court records show that of the $311 million cost of the lawsuit to date, $31 million has covered the monitoring fees. Warshaw defended the cost, stating that he has 13 full-time staffers monitoring the department.
Galvin was incredulous, referring to the monitoring effort’s 2025 year to date cost of $2.9 million. “We have to spend $2.9 million—you have to spend $2.9 million on Mr. Warshaw. You have to pay for this meeting tonight,” Galvin said. “Debbie and I cut the check, but you, the taxpayers, are paying for this meeting.”
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 Jonathan Eberle | Jul 17, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona House Speaker Steve Montenegro announced on Monday new senior staff appointments for the House Majority leadership team, signaling an early staffing shift as lawmakers prepare for the next legislative session.
Grant Hanna will assume the role of Chief of Staff, bringing over a decade of legislative experience from the Arizona Senate. Hanna most recently served as Deputy Chief of Staff in the Senate, where he was a key advisor on natural resources, water policy, energy, and government affairs. His background also includes roles as a Senior Policy Advisor and Research Analyst.
In addition, Matt Specht has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer. Specht has spent nine years on the House Majority staff and will now lead the day-to-day operations of the House. His responsibilities will include advising leadership, overseeing floor calendaring, and serving as a key resource for both members and staff. Montenegro praised Specht’s “professionalism, institutional expertise, and the highest standards of public service.”
Linley Wilson will continue in her dual roles as Deputy Chief of Staff and General Counsel. She will remain a principal advisor to leadership and Republican caucus members, contributing to policy strategy while also overseeing legal matters and supporting the House Rules Committee.
“The Arizona House is fortunate to have such a talented, experienced, and trusted leadership team supporting our Majority staff,” Speaker Montenegro said in a statement. “Grant, Matt, and Linley have earned the confidence of Members through their professionalism and sound judgment. Their leadership ensures we stay organized and focused on delivering results for the people of Arizona.”
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Jul 17, 2025 | Economy, News
By Ethan Faverino |
Scammers are posing as recruiters, offering tempting remote job opportunities to steal your money or personal information.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is urging consumers to stay vigilant, as job scams continue to rise. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over 103,000 employment scam complaints were made in 2024, resulting in an overwhelming $220 million in losses.
Fraudulent recruiters claim to represent well-known companies and reach out via email, text message, or even social media platforms such as LinkedIn and WhatsApp.
These messages often come from personal email accounts like @gmail.com or @yahoo.com rather than corporate domains.
Scammers may send what appears to be an official invitation for a virtual interview, complete with job descriptions and benefits.
However, they often move quickly, extending job offers and sending paperwork that requests sensitive information, such as bank account details, Social Security number, or even in some cases, cryptocurrency payments for “training” or “equipment.”
According to the BBB’s 2024 Scam Tracker Risk Report, employment scams ranked among the top five riskiest scams, with a medium loss of $1,500 per victim.
It is important to remember that legitimate employers do not request sensitive information or payment until after a formal hiring process is complete.
There are multiple ways to spot a job scam.
Make sure to check the sender’s email address or contact details. Legitimate recruiters use verified company emails or phone numbers, not personal accounts like Gmail and Yahoo.
Watch out for requests for personal information or any form of payment. Make sure that you are not asked to share your Social Security number, driver’s license number, bank details, or make any upfront payments before an interview or offer.
The FTC reported that 68% of job scam victims shared personal information before recognizing the fraud.
If you are unaware or uneasy about the recruiter or the company, you can always search for the name and companies online to confirm legitimacy. Most of the time you can go straight to the company’s official website or HR department or use other websites like the Better Business Bureau to make sure the recruiter and or company is legit.
Always be skeptical of job offers that are “too good to be true.” Job offers that promise high pay for little work or include vague responsibilities should raise concern.
The BBB notes that 43% of job scam complaints involved remote work offers, often targeting younger job seekers.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Jul 16, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona State Senator Jake Hoffman (R-LD15) suggested Secretary of State Adrian Fontes’ handling of a “foreign cyberattack” looks like a “massive cover-up” in a fiery exchange on X, posted Tuesday.
Further allegations from Hoffman that “Adrian Fontes is lying” followed Turning Point Action COO Tyler Bowyer’s post about the reported hacking of the Secretary of State’s Candidate Portal. Hoffman added that the FBI and Department of Homeland Security are now involved in the matter.
In his initial post Bowyer wrote, “BREAKING NEWS: I was just was told by an inside source at the legislature that it appears the Arizona Secretary of State’s portal was hacked, believed to be impacting the Candidate portal, but possibly much more.”
The Secretary of State responded with a reference to his office’s July 1st press release writing, “Your ‘inside source’ finally read the press release we issued on July 1? Breaking news indeed.”
In the press release in question, Fontes’ office stated:
“The Secretary of State’s Office detected and successfully responded to a malicious adversary that targeted the Arizona Secretary of State’s website. These attempts were investigated, our security controls tuned for similar attack patterns, and applicable threat intelligence was shared with our cybersecurity partners. The Arizona statewide voter registration database was not targeted and is unaffected by this event. The integrity of all Secretary of State systems has been maintained and the office remains in a heightened security posture as we continue to monitor for new and evolving threats.”
In a statement Fontes said, “Our office identified patterns of activity consistent with what others are now publicly acknowledging, and we took decisive action to strengthen our defenses early on. I’m proud to say that critical systems—like Arizona’s voter registration database—remained secure and protected throughout. We will continue to lead with urgency and vigilance, because defending democracy doesn’t come with a pause button.”
In a response posted Tuesday night, Hoffman blasted Fontes writing, “July 1st press release looks like a MASSIVE cover up[.] FBI & DHS (at least!) now involved[.] A private briefing was held TODAY and legislators have confirmed that a ‘foreign cyberattack’ on AZ’s election system occurred[.] The public is totally in the dark[.] Adrian Fontes is lying!”
In a follow-up post he wrote, “AZ ELECTION CYBER ATTACK COVER-UP Legislators report a briefing last week for GOP members downplaying severity of hack[.] NOW: Reports of a briefing today for DEM legislators only telling the full story[.] FBI & DHS are confirmed to be involved[.] Why is Adrian Fontes lying?”
AZ Free News has reached out to Senator Hoffman seeking elaboration on the “private briefing” held Tuesday and the involvement of the FBI and Department of Homeland Security that “confirmed” a “foreign cyberattack’ on AZ’s election system.”
As of this report no response has been received.
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 Matthew Holloway | Jul 16, 2025 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Republican Congressman Abraham Hamadeh (R-AZ08) issued a call this week for Jerome Powell, Chairman of the Federal Reserve, to resign. Hamadeh cited a series of failures from Powell in an official Congressional letter sent on Sunday.
“My call for Chairman Powell’s resignation does not come lightly nor without good cause,” stated Congressman Hamadeh. “Considering the recent revelations by Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought about Chairman Powell’s gross mismanagement of the Federal Reserve’s headquarters renovation project, and his apparent lack of candor before the Senate Banking Committee, neither does my call come too soon.”
In a post to X Monday, Hamadeh further stated, “Jerome Powell has lost the confidence and ability to effectively Chair the Federal Reserve.”
Senators pressed Powell hard on the ongoing $2.5 billion renovation of the Fed’s headquarters during the Chairman’s semiannual monetary policy hearing before Congress in June. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) critcized Powell for the renovations, referring to them as “luxury upgrades that feel more like they belong in the Palace of Versailles.”
James Blair, a White House deputy chief of staff, announced in a post to X, “The Federal Reserve’s Inspector General is considering opening an investigation into the massive cost overruns for their $2.5B+ HQ renovation project.”
Blair was appointed to the National Capital Planning Commission which holds oversight over the project last week.
In his letter calling for Powell to step down, Congressman Hamadeh echoed the words of Director Vought, who questioned the “ostentatious” overhaul of the Federal Reserve Campus and also cited the Chairman’s “failure to accurately assess the effects of tariffs” and “refusal to lower interest rates for the good of the nation in a timely manner,” as causes. He added, “This renovation is $700 million over budget at a time when your political game playing is wreaking havoc with Americans’ budgets. In fact, it is your failure at the Fed that has caused home ownership to be cost prohibitive for too many young families, denying them access to one of the most important facets of the American Dream.”
Hamadeh continued by highlighting Powell’s failed predications on the Trump administration’s tariff system.
He wrote, “Aside from the burden you have placed on taxpayers, who must foot the bill for your frivolous fabrications, you have failed to properly assess the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariff policy. Contrary to your predictions, increasing tariff collections are helping improve government finances with the U.S. Treasury Department posting a $27 billion budget surplus in June 2025.”
Hamadeh acknowledged that “White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett has said that President Trump has the authority to fire Chairman Powell for cause,” but added that “it shouldn’t have to come to that.”
He concluded, “Chairman Powell needs to accept the fact that his political game playing has led to harmful failures and step down for the good of the country.”
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 | Jul 16, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Blademir Angulo Audeves, a Mexican national, was arrested on July 8th , 2025, and charged with Harboring of an Illegal Alien, Knowingly Employing Unauthorized Aliens, Improper Entry by an Alien, and Alien in Possession of a Firearm.
Angulo made his initial appearance in federal court on Friday, July 11th.
Homeland Security Investigations launched an investigation in March 2025 following allegations that Angulo was employing undocumented workers, without work authorization, at his taco restaurants in the Phoenix area.
The investigation revealed that at least 12 illegal aliens were working for Angulo, some of whom were residing at his home in Laveen, Arizona, or at a secondary residence on 16th Avenue.
On July 8th, Homeland Security executed federal search warrants at Angulo’s main residence, restaurant locations, and secondary residence.
Agents encountered several Mexican citizens without legal authorization to be in the United States at both residents, arresting them and Angulo.
During the search of his Laveen home, agents found three firearms along with hundreds of rounds of ammunition in the closet of the master bedroom.
Immigration records show Angulo was previously encountered in the U.S illegally in 2011 and voluntarily departed through Nogales, Arizona, in May of 2021.
At the time of his arrest, Angulo lacked legal permission to be in the U.S., prohibiting him from possessing firearms or ammunition.
At Angulo’s taco restaurants, Homeland Security also identified more Mexican citizens without legal authorization to be present or employed in the U.S.
Two individuals, Christian Sagaste-Garcia and Jose Luis Ambriz-Cortes, were encountered by Homeland Security on the same operation. They were both arrested and charged with Re-entry of a Removed Alien. They had been previously removed from the U.S. in October 2024 and February 2013, respectively.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice Initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and keeping our communities safe.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
