by Staff Reporter | May 20, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The Maricopa County Superior Court ruled that Attorney General Kris Mayes must redo her entire case against the 2020 Trump electors.
In a ruling issued on Monday in Arizona v. Bowyer, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Sam Myers sided with the electors’ argument that Mayes failed to instruct the grand jury as to the applicable provisions of the Electoral Count Act of 1887, or “ECA.” Myers remanded the case back to the grand jury — meaning Mayes must start over if she still hopes to prosecute Trump’s allies in Arizona.
Myers didn’t buy Mayes’ justification for not providing the full ECA to jurors; the attorney general argued the provision of “relevant portions” of the ECA via several Kenneth Chesebro memorandums and an interview, a letter from State Sen. Jake Hoffman’s counsel, and a CNN article were sufficient.
Myers ruled Mayes had failed to provide due process to the electors by not providing “the actual text and provisions” of the ECA.
“A prosecutor has a duty to instruct the grand jury on all the law applicable to the facts of the case,” stated Myers. “Due process compels the prosecutor to make a fair and impartial presentation to the grand jury. … Because the State failed to provide the ECA to the grand jury, the Court finds that the defendants were denied a substantial procedural right as guaranteed by Arizona law.”
Mayes indicted 11 electors for President Donald Trump’s unsuccessful 2020 run: Tyler Bowyer, COO of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) arm Turning Point Action; Nancy Cottle, former electors chair and Arizona Federation of Republican Women leader; Sen. Jake Hoffman; former State Sen. Anthony Kern; Jim Lamon, 2022 Senate candidate; Robert Montgomery, former Cochise County GOP Committee chair; Samuel Moorhead, former Gila County GOP leader; Loraine Pellegrino, former electors secretary and president of Ahwatukee Republican Women; Greg Safsten, former Arizona GOP executive director; and Kelli Ward, former Arizona GOP chair, and her husband, Michael Ward.
The electors faced felony charges of conspiracy, fraud, and forgery.
These defendants argued the ECA protected their role as electors for Trump in 2020, saying the law allowed for competing electors in disputed elections.
Hoffman called the case against him and fellow electors “a witch hunt” and “a cheap political campaign promise” by Mayes.
“As I’ve said from day one, the truth is on my side, justice will prevail, and I will be vindicated,” said Hoffman. “In the meantime, Kristin will keep showing the public what a total joke she is.”
TPUSA founder and CEO, Charlie Kirk, called the ruling a “major embarrassment” for Mayes.
“It has been political from the very start and never should have happened, and we need to make sure all similar such charges are dropped against all Trump supporters, in all swing states,” said Kirk.
Mayes spokesman Richie Taylor said their office would file an appeal.
“We vehemently disagree with the court and we will file a special action to appeal the ruling,” said Taylor.
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by Jonathan Eberle | May 15, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Governor Katie Hobbs has vetoed another piece of Republican-sponsored immigration enforcement legislation, drawing criticism from GOP leaders who say the measure would have helped safeguard Arizona communities from crime linked to undocumented immigrants.
SB 1088, sponsored by Senate Government Committee Chairman Jake Hoffman (R-LD15), would have required all levels of Arizona government — including state agencies, counties, municipalities, and independent contractors — to comply with federal immigration laws. The bill also sought to formalize cooperation with federal agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In a statement following the veto, Hoffman accused Hobbs of endangering public safety for ideological reasons.
“Arizonans have long suffered under the callous and inhumane open-border policies promoted and enforced by Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Alejandro Mayorkas, and Katie Hobbs,” Hoffman said. “There is no logical justification for Hobbs’ veto on this reasonable bill… but she remains committed to her radical ideology of open borders and appeasement for cartels.”
The Governor’s office has not yet issued a detailed statement explaining her decision on SB 1088, but in previous vetoes of similar legislation, Hobbs has cited concerns over constitutionality, local control, and the potential for civil rights violations. Her administration has emphasized a need for comprehensive federal immigration reform rather than piecemeal state-level mandates.
This marks the latest in a string of immigration-related bills Hobbs has rejected this year. In March, she vetoed SB 1610, which would have required county jails to provide ICE with identifying information and access to certain inmates charged with crimes like burglary, assault, or offenses involving serious injury or death. Another proposal, SB 1164 — dubbed the “AZ ICE Act” — would have banned any policies that limit law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Both bills were backed by GOP lawmakers and part of a broader Republican effort to crack down on illegal immigration.
With a divided government in Arizona — Republicans controlling the Legislature and Democrats holding the Governor’s office — immigration enforcement has become a recurring flashpoint. Hobbs’ vetoes signal a clear resistance to Republican attempts to expand state involvement in immigration matters.
Hoffman and other GOP lawmakers have indicated they may continue to introduce similar legislation and are expected to highlight the vetoes in upcoming political campaigns. Republicans argue these measures are necessary to support law enforcement and curb crime, while Democrats say the bills could open the door to overreach and civil rights violations. Arizona’s legislative battles are likely to remain a key battleground in the broader debate over how immigration enforcement should be handled — and by whom.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | May 12, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Despite escalating tensions between the executive and legislative branches in Arizona, the Senate Committee on Director Nominations advanced the confirmation of Robyn Sahid as Commissioner of the State Land Department during a hearing held last week.
The confirmation process continued as scheduled, even as Republican members of the committee criticized Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs over remarks she made last week. GOP lawmakers described Hobbs’ comments as an “explosive temper tantrum” and a threat to bypass the Senate’s confirmation process—a move they characterized as unlawful.
“Senate Republicans will continue to be the adults in the room and serve as the critical check and balance on the executive, as the citizens of Arizona expect of us,” said Committee Chair Sen. Jake Hoffman, referring to Hobbs’ remarks during a press gaggle. Hoffman said the governor’s comments lacked legal grounding and had no impact on the committee’s work.
Senator John Kavanagh echoed that sentiment, calling Hobbs’ statements a “meltdown,” while commending the committee’s decision to confirm Sahid. “We confirmed a competent, non-partisan, qualified individual to serve as commissioner for the State Land Department,” he said.
Sahid, who has served in multiple public sector roles, received praise from lawmakers for her qualifications and demeanor. President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope emphasized that the committee remains open to nominees who demonstrate professionalism and nonpartisanship. “Robyn Sahid fit the bill today, and she should serve as an example to Governor Hobbs of the type of individuals we are looking to advance,” Shope said.
This latest episode is part of an ongoing power struggle between Governor Hobbs and the Republican-controlled Arizona Senate over executive appointments. Since taking office in 2023, Hobbs has clashed with lawmakers over the confirmation process, at one point even withdrawing several nominees in protest of what she described as a partisan and obstructive approach by the Senate.
Arizona law requires that many agency heads appointed by the governor must be confirmed by the state Senate. Tensions have mounted as Republicans have used their majority to exert a more thorough vetting process over appointments.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | May 11, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen on Thursday defended the work of the Senate Committee on Director Nominations (DINO), highlighting the committee’s progress and reaffirming its role in ensuring transparency and competence in executive branch appointments.
In a statement issued from the Arizona State Capitol, Petersen said the committee — established in February 2023 and comprised of both Republican and Democratic lawmakers — is functioning as intended to uphold a constitutional check on the governor’s appointment powers.
“In an effort to establish a clear system of checks and balances over state agency directors, I created the bipartisan Senate Committee on Director Nominations (DINO),” Petersen said, noting the panel is currently led by Chairman Jake Hoffman (R) and includes Senators T.J. Shope (R), John Kavanagh (R), Flavio Bravo (D), and Analise Ortiz (D).
According to Petersen, the DINO Committee has reviewed 20 executive nominations since its creation. Of those, 14 nominees have been confirmed by the full Senate, two have been rejected, and three are pending final Senate votes. An additional seven nominations were withdrawn by the Governor’s office before hearings were held.
“The DINO Committee is working as I intended it to, and as a result, we are receiving better quality candidates from the Executive Branch to lead these state agencies,” Petersen said, adding that four nominees are currently awaiting hearings and that two new nominations are needed to replace recently withdrawn candidates.
Some Democrats and political observers have raised concerns that the panel is being used to block or delay nominees over ideological differences rather than qualifications. Petersen rejected that characterization, stating, “We are… weeding out unqualified, highly partisan, incompetent, or corrupt individuals who should not be holding any sort of leadership roles within the State of Arizona.”
In his remarks, Petersen also pushed back on public criticism of the Senate’s rejections, calling media attention to political tensions a distraction from the committee’s overall effectiveness. “The fact is we have confirmed the vast majority of the nominees,” he said. “The process is simple. If the Governor sends us qualified, non-partisan nominees, they will be confirmed.”
Governor Hobbs’ office has not yet publicly responded to Petersen’s latest remarks. Her administration has previously defended its nominees and criticized the Senate for what it describes as politicized obstruction.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | May 3, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs announced Wednesday that two of her top health officials, AHCCCS Director Carmen Heredia and Department of Health Services Director Jennie Cunico, have resigned after it became apparent that the Republican-controlled state Senate would not confirm their appointments.
The resignations come amid a broader struggle between the governor’s office and the state Senate’s Director Nominations Committee, chaired by Republican Senator Jake Hoffman. The committee has become increasingly assertive in vetting Hobbs’ executive agency nominees, and in recent weeks signaled it would reject both Heredia and Cunico. Hobbs’ office said the resignations were necessary due to the Senate Majority’s unwillingness to confirm them.
“Today’s announcement is a testament to the important work being conducted on behalf of the citizens of Arizona by the Senate Committee on Director Nominations. I’m pleased Katie Hobbs saved herself, and AHCCCS Director Nominee Carmen Heredia, from the embarrassment of advancing her through the scheduled hearing this week,” said Senate Director Nominations Committee Chair Jake Hoffman. “Under Heredia’s direction, AHCCCS mismanaged the procurement process and improperly awarded contracts for healthcare services for thousands of elderly and physically disabled individuals enrolled in the Arizona Long Term Care System. A judge described the process as ‘arbitrary and capricious’ and recommended a full reset. Instead of responding to the feedback appropriately, Heredia basically told the judicial system to pound sand and moved forward with the contracts. Her refusal to provide transparency in this matter displayed nothing more than arrogance.”
“What’s even worse, Arizona is in the middle of a monumental Medicaid fraud crisis with a loss of more than $2 billion in taxpayer dollars,” continued Hoffman. “Under Katie Hobbs’ leadership, Heredia’s response has been incredibly disturbing, to say the least. Patients in sober living homes were evicted from facilities overnight after AHCCCS poorly executed suspensions of more than 300 providers. Many of these patients were mid-treatment, detoxing, or severely mentally ill and were dropped off on the streets with no identification or transportation. Legitimate providers were caught up in the mess without AHCCCS providing explanations or due process. Some are still waiting to be reinstated or reimbursed. We are left with a broken system due to Heredia’s mismanagement, and our vulnerable populations are caught up in this collapse.”
“Since its inception, the Committee on Director Nominations has been committed to honestly, thoroughly, and accurately vetting Katie Hobbs’ nominees. We have served as Arizonans’ last line of defense against incompetent, unqualified, and highly partisan picks to lead state agencies. We will continue to do the hard work the citizens of Arizona expect of us and will only approve competent, non-partisan individuals to serve in these critical roles,” stated Hoffman. “We look forward to Katie Hobbs sending us a sensible leader that will be able to rein in the abuse that has occurred at AHCCCS.”
Heredia, who led the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) since early 2023, was credited by Hobbs with implementing sweeping reforms that led to nearly $1 billion in Medicaid fraud recoveries and savings over three years. She expanded access to care for working-class children, oversaw transitions to employer-sponsored insurance, and spearheaded behavioral health initiatives such as the Housing and Health Opportunities program.
However, Heredia’s leadership was the subject of fierce criticism from Senate Republicans. Senator Hoffman accused her of mismanaging Medicaid contracts and overseeing what he called a “broken system” during Arizona’s recent Medicaid fraud crisis. The Senate committee never formally held a confirmation hearing for Heredia, but it became clear she lacked the votes needed.
In her resignation letter, Heredia said, “It has become increasingly difficult to carry out this mission in good faith under the current political climate… Political theater has begun to outweigh sound policy.”
Cunico, a career public servant who transitioned from the Ducey administration also became ensnared in the Senate’s broader dispute over executive appointments. “It is clear to me that there is no path forward to confirmation,” Cunico said in her statement.
The latest resignations reflect a deepening power struggle between the Democratic governor and the Republican-led Legislature. Hobbs condemned what she called an “unprecedented politicization” of the confirmation process, warning that the climate in the Capitol is deterring qualified public servants.
“These resignations were not due to a failure in governance, but a failure in politics,” Hobbs said. “The people of Arizona deserve leaders who are judged by their performance, not their party.”
As the governor seeks replacements for both roles, it remains unclear how future nominees will fare in a process increasingly shaped by ideological divisions.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
