by Staff Reporter | Apr 30, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The Arizona Republican Party is questioning why Attorney General Kris Mayes hasn’t taken action against her fellow Democrat, Gov. Katie Hobbs, over an alleged pay-to-play arrangement.
Mayes is investigating Hobbs over allegations that she awarded a unique rate increase by the Department of Children Services (DCS) to Sunshine Residential Homes, a group home operator, following sizable donations to her gubernatorial campaign and the Arizona Democratic Party. Mayes asked to interview Hobbs this week, but it appears the governor may decline that invitation.
Republican support for Mayes investigating Hobbs has been a whiplash; certain lawmakers and state leaders contended it was best for Mayes to recuse herself given their close party ties.
Hobbs spokesman Christian Slater told the Arizona Republic that Hobbs declined to comment on her decision to sit for an interview. Slater said the lack of evidence proving Hobbs’ knowledge of the rate increase meant there was no proof of her guilt.
Sunshine Residential Homes donated more than $400,000 to Hobbs and the Arizona Democratic Party. After Hobbs took office, DCS awarded the operator a 30% rate increase. Officials say the details of DCS actions surrounding the rate increase were suspicious: no other group homes received rate increases; other group homes’ rate averages fell below Sunshine Residential Homes; and DCS ended state contracts with 16 group homes.
In a new statement released on Wednesday, the Arizona Republican Party called on Mayes to keep up the pressure on Hobbs by putting aside any political favoritism. The party also urged the governor to cooperate with investigators.
The party’s chairman, Sergio Arellano, said Hobbs’ actions were consistent with corruption.
“Governor Hobbs has spent years lecturing Arizonans about ethics while her own administration was allegedly steering millions in taxpayer dollars to a generous donor,” said Arellano. “The fact that her campaign manager was dining with the contractor’s CEO as the deal was finalized only adds to the stench of a pay-to-play scheme that puts special interests ahead of Arizona’s most vulnerable children in state care. Hobbs owes the people of Arizona full transparency and cooperation with this criminal probe, not more stonewalling and self-serving denials.”
The Republican-led Arizona House launched an independent investigation into the pay-to-play allegations earlier this year. They are working with Mayes and Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell on the investigation; Mayes and Mitchell began investigating nearly two years ago.
The results of the legislature’s investigation will go to the advisory team created in the aftermath of 2024 investigative reporting that outlined the alleged pay-to-play scheme. The advisory team will coordinate the parallel investigations from Mitchell and Mayes to work out a conclusion on the matter.
Hobbs derided the legislative investigation in a statement to The Center Square as the “same old partisan games” by “extremist legislators” spreading misinformation. The governor has repeatedly denied any involvement with the DCS decision.
“I’m looking forward to the conclusion of this investigation which I know will show what reporting has confirmed that I was not involved in the decision and that DCS acted in the best interest of Arizona’s foster children,” said Hobbs in a Tuesday statement.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Warren Petersen | Feb 12, 2026 | Opinion
By Sen. Warren Petersen |
Over the past couple of months, the nation’s eyes have (rightfully) been turned to the State of Minnesota, as concerned citizens have unearthed what appears to be significant abuses of taxpayer dollars going to seemingly fraudulent daycare and healthcare centers run by Somali immigrants. These discoveries have exposed Minnesota Democrat officials, who have (at the least) looked the other way as this fraud was ongoing and escalating.
Minnesota isn’t the only state where we are seeing this rampant misuse of hard-earned taxpayer dollars.
Over the past three years, Arizona has been governed by a Democrat Governor and Attorney General, Katie Hobbs and Kris Mayes. These two have combined to cultivate a culture of corruption in the Grand Canyon State that rivals the illegal shenanigans from Minnesota. There have been several instances of this abuse and chicanery from the Governor’s Office that the Attorney General’s Office has clearly provided cover for during this term in office.
Whether in Minnesota or Arizona or any other state or jurisdiction across the country, American taxpayers deserve honest, transparent public servants, who are committed to putting the interests of citizens above the political elite. Thankfully, for the people of Arizona, the Republican-led state legislature has worked to hold these lawless Democrats accountable to the rule of law, though Hobbs and Mayes continue to stonewall our efforts and perpetrate new avenues of corruption.
Inaugural Fund
Fresh off taking the oath of office, Hobbs proved herself unable to provide complete transparency to citizens with her inaugural fund. Arizona Governors have historically raised money to cover the expenses of their inaugurations, then transferred the excess funds to the state. However, Hobbs was reticent to share certain information of her donors and then withheld more than one million dollars from the state, forcing a clash with the legislature. This breakdown in transparency from the Governor’s Office led to legislation that codified the precedent predating Hobbs into law to mandate reporting of all future inauguration expenses and funds raised. The bill’s passage was overwhelmingly bipartisan – a rare feat in Arizona’s divided government, proving that Democrats understood the mess Hobbs had created for herself.
Hobbs Pay to Play
Likely the most egregious action of Hobbs’ administration to-date, the alleged pay-to-play scandal will define the culture of corruption surrounding her administration. Almost two years ago, The Arizona Republic reported that a for-profit, state-contracted group home operator, Sunshine Residential Homes, received a significant rate increase approval from the Hobbs-led Department of Child Services (DCS). Leading up to this rate increase, the group donated to Hobbs’ inaugural fund – after its request for a rate increase had been denied by the outgoing Republican administration. The reporting showed that Hobbs had not approved rate increases to any other group homes, nor were the rate averages for these group homes comparable with Sunshine Residential Homes. Additionally, DCS ended state contracts with 16 group homes, making the arrangement with Sunshine all the more suspicious.
Attorney General Kris Mayes did go through the motions of announcing an investigation into this alleged pay-to-play, but she attempted to order Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell and the Arizona Auditor General off the case – despite those offices being asked to investigate the uncovered scheme by state legislators. Mayes was soundly rebuked by Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee, who also requested that the Maricopa County and State Auditor General investigations continue. The Democrat Attorney General was also accused of a conflict of interest in that she was again shielding her same-party official from the full weight of accountability under the law. There have been no updates from Mayes’ office into the status of this investigation in almost two years, leading credence to the idea that this was a cover-up meant to protect Hobbs and her administration. Compounding the shady behavior from her administration, Hobbs vetoed a bill during last year’s legislative session meant to fool-proof future executives from exploiting any perceived loopholes to perpetuate this kind of abuse.
SNAP
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program doles out almost $100 billion annually to Americans to purchase food. However, like many government programs, this one is rife with fraud and theft. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, there were over $320 million in stolen benefits between October 2022 and December 2024. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported in 2023 (during the Biden administration) that approximately twelve percent of these benefits were fraudulent. The politics and policies of this bloated program aside, it is undeniable that SNAP needs more oversight and guardrails to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being stewarded appropriately.
Hobbs and Mayes disagree. Mayes sued the Trump administration over its commonsense efforts to request more information from states on SNAP beneficiaries. Hobbs, for her part, refused to acquiesce to the administration’s data requests. These two are politicizing an issue that should enjoy consensus across party lines. No government official should be standing in the way of efforts to root out fraud in any public program, where taxpayer dollars are at risk for abuse. Every taxpayer dollar should be protected to the highest level. Unfortunately, for Arizona, Katie Hobbs and Kris Mayes don’t want the federal government – and the taxpayer – to find out exactly how much fraud is in our state; and that’s a shame.
Mayes Pay to Play
U.S. Congressman Abraham Hamadeh has asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate an alleged pay-to-play bribery scheme involving Kris Mayes and outside political organizations. The allegations claim Mayes received political benefits in exchange for official actions targeting political opponents.
Shady Operator
Late last year, a top official in Mayes’ State Government Division was arrested for “controlling and trafficking stolen property.” Mayes’ office had been warned by the City of Peoria nearly two years earlier about serious allegations against this official – including fraud, conversion, and breach of fiduciary duty – yet Mayes kept her in a position of authority leading up to her arrest.
Arizona has long been known for its rugged independence and spirit of doing the right thing. Unfortunately for our state and its proud history, that reputation is being shattered by the culture of corruption from Hobbs and Mayes. Democrats across the country – from Arizona to Minnesota – have proven themselves incapable of governing our states – the laboratories of democracy – as the people rightly expect and deserve. It will be up to the voters to course correct this November and usher in legislators and executives who can – and will – steward the peoples’ money as it was intended.
Warren Petersen is the President of the Arizona State Senate and represents Legislative District 14.
by Jonathan Eberle | Mar 31, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona State Senator Carine Werner (R-LD4), Chair of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee, has called for a legislative probe into the Arizona Department of Child Services (DCS) group home regulations. Werner called for the investigation after the gruesome murder of 14-year-old Emily Pike. Pike had run away from a state-licensed facility in January before being killed.
In a press release, Werner expressed deep concern over the failure of the system to protect vulnerable children. She announced plans to convene a bipartisan hearing through the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on the Department of Child Safety. The hearing will include DCS officials, law enforcement, lawmakers, tribal councils, and social services departments to examine existing policies and identify areas for reform.
“Arizona’s licensed group homes have repeatedly made headlines for egregious mistakes that have cost lives and threatened the safety of staff,” Werner stated. “There may be underlying systemic issues requiring immediate reforms, so we must assess where mistakes are occurring and determine the next steps.”
Werner also called for the Arizona Attorney General’s Office to launch an investigation, though no official inquiry has been announced at this time.
Arizona’s child welfare system has faced long-standing criticism over group home conditions and the safety of children placed in state care. Reports of abuse, neglect, and inadequate oversight have raised alarms among lawmakers and child advocates. The tragic case of Emily Pike has reignited demands for stricter oversight and accountability.
The Senate hearing is expected to focus on the effectiveness of existing DCS policies, safety measures in group homes, and potential legislative solutions to prevent future tragedies. Senator Werner has pledged to keep the public informed on the progress of the investigation and any forthcoming policy recommendations.
As Arizona lawmakers push for answers, the case underscores the ongoing debate over child welfare reforms and the role of state oversight in protecting the most vulnerable children.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Feb 27, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
With the 2026 election just around the corner, Governor Katie Hobbs is adopting right-leaning policies and stances.
On Tuesday, Hobbs announced the creation of a border task force, Operation Desert Guardian (ODG), to enhance border security. The task force strongly resembles the Border Strike Force (BSF) of Hobbs’ Republican predecessor, Doug Ducey.
This renewed focus on border security and support for a task force marks a significant departure from Hobbs’ initial stance as governor.
Early on in her first months in office in 2023, Hobbs began ending Ducey’s BSF, which included removing shipping containers intended to close off unsealed sections of the southern border. On the campaign trail in the summer of 2022, Hobbs promised to not end the BSF. By November, Hobbs indicated her intent to leave border security and immigration enforcement to the federal government.
Hobbs’ spokesman, Christian Slater, insisted in statements to the media that Hobbs’ task force differed greatly from Ducey’s strike force. However, the two share nearly identical structures and duties.
The BSF launched as an enforcement bureau within the Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigations Division. The strike force focused on improvements to addressing border-related crimes (for example: drug trafficking, weapon smuggling, vehicle theft recovery, and violent criminal apprehension) while evaluating and analyzing criminal intelligence and enhancing response capabilities along the border. The BSF combined federal, state, county, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies in the border region to carry out these duties, especially for disruption of transnational criminal organizations (TCOs).
By comparison, ODG also partners with local law enforcement within the border-inclusive counties to disrupt TCO operations and border-related crimes.
Hobbs reversed course on her support for Proposition 123. While still a state senator in 2015, Hobbs opposed the proposition’s arrangement increasing state land trust dollars to fund schools. Last month, Hobbs advocated for the proposition’s renewal as an “essential” means of providing “critical funding” for the state’s public schools and educators.
Hobbs also reversed course on a significant agency pick, Angie Rogers, opting instead to restore Michael Wisehart as director of the Department of Economic Security (DES); her predecessor, Doug Ducey, installed Wisehart.
Last month, Hobbs appointed another Ducey administration veteran, Kathryn “Katie” Ptak, to lead the Department of Child Services.
Some efforts undertaken by the current administration, often seen as red meat right-wing priorities, have backfired recently for the governor. Hobbs created a new six-figure role within DES (chief, or “senior executive consultant,” of the newly-created Office of Veteran & Military Affairs) that mirrors the work already undertaken by the Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS). The position went to Dana Allmond at Hobbs’ behest, the unsuccessful Democratic 2022 legislative candidate and failed gubernatorial nominee. Republican legislative leaders questioned the apparent duplicity of the new DES position and DVS responsibilities.
Per the secretary of state’s office, 11 individuals have filed statements of interest in the governor’s race: Republican candidates Alan White, Karrin Taylor Robinson, George Nicholson, Scott Neely, Donald Mucheck, Christian “Maverick” Grey, Andy Biggs, and Christopher Ames; Green Party candidates William Pounds IV and Lisa Castillo; and Libertarian candidate Barry Hess.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Corinne Murdock | Aug 12, 2023 | News
By Corinne Murdock |
An audit released last month found that the Arizona Department of Child Services (DCS) has failed to follow state law on information sharing and case review attendance for foster children.
The report was the first in a three-part series on DCS, determining whether DCS followed law to provide the information necessary for local foster care review boards to complete foster children’s cases. The auditor general, Lindsey Perry, found that DCS caseworkers failed to provide all the necessary documents for children’s cases, and failed to attend case review meetings.
There are 109 local boards that determine foster cases; these boards rely on the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to relay information from DCS. The auditor general found that DCS consistently failed to provide case documents to the AOC through their automated application, Guardian. The auditor general found that the poor DCS performance not only hindered children’s cases, but diminished trust from the AOC and the local boards.
“[T]he automated information exchange not providing some information to AOC on behalf of local boards has negatively impacted AOC’s and local boards’ trust and confidence in the Department and the Department’s reputation,” stated Perry. “As a result, AOC staff reported that they and local boards may assume that the Department has withheld information that should have been provided, which has negatively impacted AOC’s and local boards’ trust in and working relationship with the Department.”
Local boards require three necessary documents: the court report, which DCS develops for hearings; the case plan, in which DCS outlines the goals and tasks necessary to ensure a child achieves permanency; and the Team Decision Making (TDM) meeting summary, in which DCS summarizes decisions made during meetings about a child’s safety, stability, and permanency.
The auditor general report found that all 13 samples of 124 case reviews conducted by local boards on June 28, 2022, and July 6, 2022 failed to include a complete version of those three necessary documents. That came out to 31 of 39 case documents provided incompletely or not provided at all.
According to the report, AOC staff and local board volunteers experienced difficulty in conducting reviews due to the lack of information about children’s cases.
Part of the information exchange failure resulted from AOC staff failing to submit valid document requests. That mistake resulted in 15 of the 31 missing case documents. The auditor general also found that DCS caseworkers failed to store complete case documents in Guardian in 10 of the 31 faulty or missing case documents. This latter mistake by DCS accounted for some of the AOC staff members’ faulty document requests: AOC failed to obtain the necessary documents because DCS failed to upload into the system.
The auditor general noted that DCS policy doesn’t advise superiors on proper punitive measures.
4 of the 31 missing case documents were due to DCS determining they weren’t necessary and therefore weren’t stored in Guardian — a circumstance which DCS doesn’t communicate to AOC. The remaining 2 missing or inaccessible documents were due to a software issue and a limitation on legal document access, respectively.
The state legislature passed changes to the law through HB2213 requiring DCS to provide AOC direct, remote access to Guardian in addition to any DCS information necessary for local board duties.
DCS attempted to dismiss the significance of their shortcomings in information exchange via Guardian, advising the auditor general that AOC staff may request case documents via other means, such as when emailing reminders to caseworkers about local board reviews, or accessing the Maricopa County Superior Court IT system. However, the auditor general dismissed these alternatives as time-consuming.
“[O]btaining case documents from these alternative sources may require both AOC and Department staff to spend additional and potentially unnecessary time that could be otherwise spent on other mission critical activities,” stated Perry.
Perry advised that DCS should provide all necessary case documents, hold monthly supervision meetings with caseworks to ensure document compliance, revise and implement policies and procedures to require caseworkers to store court reports in Guardian by verification of supervisors, implement guidance for supervisors to handle non-compliant caseworkers, and solicit continued feedback from AOC on their information exchange. DCS agreed to implement the proposed changes.
The auditor general also found that 18 percent of caseworkers on a sample of days failed to follow policy requiring either attendance or having their supervisor attend local board case reviews, and notify AOC if attendance isn’t possible. In two of the 124 case reviews observed in which the caseworker failed to show or provide a case update, the auditor general noted that the local board was unable to determine the status of a child who’d been hospitalized for abuse and a child plagued by mental health and self-harm issues.
The auditor general recommended that DCS ensure caseworkers comply with policy requirements on case review attendance, revise and implement policy to provide case updates, and work with AOC to determine information for updates when caseworkers can’t attend.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
