​Appeals Court Judge In 2020 ‘Alternate’ Electors Case Donated To Attorney General Mayes

​Appeals Court Judge In 2020 ‘Alternate’ Electors Case Donated To Attorney General Mayes

By Staff Reporter |

The Arizona Court of Appeals judge in the “alternate electors” case donated to Attorney General Mayes when she was campaigning on prosecuting President Donald Trump’s 2020 electors. 

On Wednesday, the day after Attorney General Kris Mayes asked the court to reject the lower court’s ruling, the appeals court held oral arguments in the alternate electors case.

The appeals court judge on the case, Andrew Jacobs, was appointed by Governor Katie Hobbs in February 2023. Jacobs donated $500 to Mayes’ campaign for the office in 2022. At the time, Jacobs was an attorney with Snell and Wilmer. 

Several days after Mayes promised publicly to investigate the 2020 electors, Jacobs submitted his first donation to her campaign. 

“I would have immediately investigated the alternate electors as Attorney General,” said Mayes. “Arizona needs a #LawyerForthePeople.”

Jacobs submitted his second donation to Mayes’ campaign the day after an Arizona Republic article emerged highlighting the differences between her and then-opponent (now congressman) Abe Hamadeh. 

A source that observed the emergency hearing described Jacobs as “hostile” to the electors. During oral arguments, the conflict of interest was raised, however, Jacbos still voted on an issue in the case, the decision to grant a stay.

Last month, Maricopa County Judge Sam Myers ruled the 2020 electors, 16 in total, provided sufficient evidence that Mayes’ case against them may be dismissable for violating Arizona’s Anti-SLAPP law.

Anti-SLAPP, or “strategic lawsuits against public participation,” imposes civil liability against any state actor that brings or maintains a legal action substantially motivated by a desire to deter, retaliation against, or prevent free speech and association. 

Myers said the 2020 electors demonstrated their actions to comprise “at least in part some arguably lawful speech.” Myers cited Mayes’ remarks announcing the indictments as potential proof of a political motivation behind her prosecution. 

Mayes disagreed with the ruling. The attorney general said the 2020 creation of an alternate elector slate didn’t constitute free speech and shouldn’t be afforded constitutional protections. 

“It is not the lawful exercise of free speech to file forged slates of electors to deprive Arizona voters of their right to vote,” said Mayes. 

In order to counter Myers’ ruling, Mayes had to prove in a brief due earlier this week that she wasn’t motivated by a desire to retaliate or deter the 2020 electors’ free speech rights.

The outcome of that motion to dismiss the case remains pending. 

Myers did deny motions to dismiss Mayes’ case last week, however. The motions claimed Mayes lacked authority to bring the case to court and failed to allege crimes committed. 

Last November, the first judge on the case, Bruce Cohen, recused himself after emails emerged in which he ordered his fellow judges to come to the defense of then-presidential candidate Kamala Harris. 

The defendants in the case include former AZGOP Chair Dr. Kelli Ward, Dr. Michael Ward, former executive director of the AZGOP Greg Safsten, former Arizona State Senator Anthony Kern, former Senate Candidate Jim Lamon, former Cochise County Republican Committee chair Robert Montgomery, former Cochise County Republican Committee chair Samuel Moorhead, Arizona State Senator Jake Hoffman, Turning Point USA COO Tyler Bowyer, and attorneys John Eastman, Rudy Giuliani, Christina Bobb, as well as President Trump’s Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, Campaign Aide Boris Epshteyn, and director of Election Day operations Mike Roman.

AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.

Arizona’s Adjutant General Announces Decision To Step Down From Commanding National Guard

Arizona’s Adjutant General Announces Decision To Step Down From Commanding National Guard

By Matthew Holloway |

Major General Kerry Muehlenbeck, the Arizona Adjutant General, will step down from commanding the Arizona National Guard and Department of Emergency and Military Affairs in June, according to Governor Katie Hobbs’ office. General Muehlenbeck was appointed to office in 2021 by then-Governor Doug Ducey.

“It has been an honor to serve as Arizona’s Adjutant General,” Major General Muehlenbeck said in a statement. “To be able to work alongside dedicated men and women, both in and out of uniform, in service to Arizona and the nation is a privilege beyond measure. I appreciate the trust of Governor Hobbs, Governor Ducey, and both their teams. I will always value their commitment to protecting the citizens of Arizona.”

Speaking with the Arizona Capitol Times, she explained that the time has come for her to return to her previous vocation: teaching criminal justice studies at Mesa Community College. According to the outlet, federal law requires civilian employers to hold a member of the military’s job for up to five years while they serve. Major General Muehlenbeck’s five years are up this year.

Muehlenbeck described her working relationship with both Republican and Democrat governors, telling the Arizona Capitol Times, “In the military, you don’t take any of the decisions personally. You’re there to provide your best military advice.” Muehlenbeck continued, “And if I don’t agree inside the room where we’re having discussions, as soon as we walk out of the door, then that decision is the best one we could have made.”

Governor Katie Hobbs released a statement on Monday saying, “I am grateful to Major General Muehlenbeck for her service to the people of Arizona. She is a valued member of my cabinet who is dedicated to fostering public safety across the state. Under her leadership, the Arizona National Guard launched Task Force SAFE, a critical ongoing effort that is preventing dangerous drugs from entering our state. In addition, the Division of Emergency Management and Arizona National Guard embarked on one of its largest rescue missions to date, evacuating more than 100 people when devastating floods swept through Havasupai. I wish Major General Muehlenbeck the best in her future endeavors.”

Hobbs musts now nominate a replacement for General Muehlenbeck, but any nomination will face heavy scrutiny from the Republican-led Arizona Senate Committee on Director Nominations led by Arizona Senator Jake Hoffman. Chairman Hoffman was clear that the decision on any nominee would come down to capability.

“We’re in an age where we want our military men and women, whether that’s the Guard or whether that’s the Marines or the Army, we want them to be the most efficient, effective fighting force possible,” Hoffman said. “Woke ideology of the politicization of our men and women will be an automatic death knell for any Hobbs nominee for this important post.”

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.

Senate Bill Would Require Clear Tax Impact Statements On Ballots For School Bonds And Overrides

Senate Bill Would Require Clear Tax Impact Statements On Ballots For School Bonds And Overrides

By Jonathan Eberle |

The Arizona State Senate is reviewing Senate Bill (SB) 1091, which would require school district election ballots to include clear information on potential property tax reductions if voters reject budget overrides or bond measures.

The bill, which was sponosored by Sen. Jake Hoffman (R-LD15), aims to provide greater transparency for voters when deciding on school funding measures that involve secondary property taxes.

Arizona school districts can request budget overrides or bond authorizations when additional funding is needed beyond state-imposed limits. These measures are often funded by secondary property tax levies and must be approved by voters in district-wide elections.

Currently, school district ballots already include estimated tax rates for proposed overrides or bonds. However, SB 1091 would require ballots to explicitly state the estimated property tax reduction that would occur if voters reject the proposal, allowing taxpayers to see the potential financial impact.

If passed, the legislation would mandate that ballots for school district funding elections include an estimated average reduction in secondary property taxes if the budget override or bond measure is not approved and the exact date when the tax reduction would take effect.

This requirement would apply to budget override continuation elections, where districts seek to maintain higher spending limits through secondary property taxes as well as bond authorization continuation elections, which determine whether a district can continue issuing and selling bonds at the same tax rate in future years.

The bill also includes technical and conforming changes to existing statutes but does not impose any anticipated fiscal impact on the state’s general fund.

Supporters argue that SB 1091 enhances voter transparency, ensuring residents fully understand the tax implications of school district funding decisions. Critics, however, worry that emphasizing potential tax reductions on ballots could sway voters against approving necessary education funding.

Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.

Governor Hobbs Airs Frustrations To Media With Latest Appointment Rejection

Governor Hobbs Airs Frustrations To Media With Latest Appointment Rejection

By Staff Reporter |

Governor Katie Hobbs vented her frustrations to the media while discussing the latest rejection of another appointment of hers last week. 

The day prior, the Arizona Senate voted against Hobbs’ pick, Joan Serviss, to be the director of the Arizona Department of Housing (DOH). In a viral media interview, Hobbs said she had the right to have her appointments confirmed on the basis of her being the governor. 

“They’re using her to get this political agenda out that makes no sense. And it holds Arizonans hostage,” said Hobbs. “And if Jake Hoffman, unindicted fake elector Jake Hoffman, wants to decide everyone that gets hired at every state agency, then I welcome him into the governor’s race because that is my job — I get to run state agencies. I won the governor’s race. I get to run state agencies and I get to decide how they’re run and according to the agenda that Arizonans elected me on.”

The subject of Hobbs’ ire, State Senator Jake Hoffman, characterized Hobbs’ remarks as a “full blown temper tantrum.” Hoffman said he wasn’t interested in running for governor, but he did endorse another active candidate, Congressman Andy Biggs.

Serviss blamed partisanship for her rejection, claiming criticisms of her work were “unconscionable and politicized scrutiny.” 

“The current political climate at the Legislature, particularly the relentless attacks of public servants like me, creates an environment where, frankly, it’s hard to imagine how qualified individuals stepping up to lead a state agency can endure what amounts to a political circus,” said Serviss in a LinkedIn post. “At the end of the day, whether I hold the Director title or not, I’m still a leader in the fight to end homelessness and address our state’s affordable housing crisis.”

The auditor general also discovered in a sunset review last October that, during Serviss’ first year with ADOH as its cabinet executive officer and executive deputy director, the agency transferred $2 million to scammers posing as an existing nonprofit organization ADOH coordinated with to purchase property for affordable housing. The transfer took place in June 2023 but ADOH didn’t discover the fraud until that December. ADOH also failed to notify the auditor general in the time frame required by statute, and then took nearly 80 days to respond to requests for information from the Arizona Department of Administration. The state covered the $2 million loss with its self-insurance (other state funds). 

The auditor general also determined in its summary ADOH “lacks a comprehensive process to evaluate program performance” for the over $1 billion it oversees in housing funds, therefore “limiting its ability to ensure and demonstrate its programs are effectively addressing the state’s housing problems[.]”

The Senate previously found Serviss unfit to lead ADOH, but for different reasons. In September 2023, the Senate rejected Serviss based on her alleged plagiarism perpetrated while leading the Arizona Housing Coalition. 

Serviss had served in the role of ADOH director since last September. She now serves as deputy director.

AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.