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 Abraham Hamadeh | Jun 24, 2025 | Opinion
By Congressman Abe Hamadeh (AZ-08) |
Our Republic depends on the integrity of every ballot and the trust the American people place in the electoral system. That trust is on the line, and I am here to continue sounding the alarm.
After reviewing credible, disturbing reports regarding Runbeck Election Services and Maricopa County’s handling of ballots during the 2024 General Election, I have formally called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to launch a federal investigation into whether basic election protocols were violated.
This is not partisan theater. The allegations are signs of possible systemic failures or a complete disregard for the chain of custody that protects every legal vote.
As a former prosecutor and Army Reserve intelligence officer, I do not jump to conclusions. I review the facts at hand, and I believe in due process and evidence.
But I also believe that when red flags are waving this high and wide, public servants have a duty to act.
During my time representing the people of Arizona, I have seen firsthand how trust in our elections has declined. In 2022, polling showed that more than half of Arizona voters doubted whether the official vote count reflected all legal votes. That level of public distrust is toxic to a functioning democracy, and it cannot be ignored.
Election security is national security.
In both 2020 and 2022, Arizona faced scrutiny from all sides. We endured hand counts, audits, lawsuits, and national attention. The public was told repeatedly that every vote was counted, every procedure followed. However, if the most basic rules surrounding ballot security were violated, then those assurances are meaningless.
The American people deserve to know the truth.
That is why I am asking the Justice Department to determine whether Runbeck provided a secure environment for ballot printing, transportation, and storage.
If all procedures were followed correctly, then all involved should welcome a federal investigation and seek to reaffirm public confidence. If those procedures were ignored or manipulated, then we need immediate corrective action and full accountability. A transparent process benefits everyone, regardless of political party.
Reports have indicated that there was no meaningful safeguards or oversight in place at all times. That is not just bad optics. That is a recipe for disaster. Even the appearance of impropriety damages voter confidence and invites division across the country.
As a representative for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, I take my oath to protect our Constitution seriously. That includes the right of every American to participate in a fair election. When systems break down or appear compromised, it is not enough to hope for the best. We must act to investigate, fix them, and restore faith in the system.
Some critics will try to paint this investigation as just another political stunt. They will try to lump it in with previous election disputes to dismiss it out of hand. But that misses the point entirely. This request is not being driven by partisanship. It is being driven by facts, by public concern, and by a genuine desire to strengthen our democratic institutions.
We are not repeating past fights. We are demanding answers in the present. We are relying on the lawful, nonpartisan authority of the Justice Department to get to the bottom of this. We are asking for transparency, not a political advantage.
So, what does this mean for the people of Arizona? It means you are not being ignored. Your concerns about the integrity of our elections are being taken seriously. Your right to have your voice heard is being defended.
To the American people watching this unfold, know this: we are not looking to undermine democracy. We are looking to restore and strengthen it.
We are not interested in sowing chaos. We are committed to restoring order and confidence. Because when trust in elections breaks down, the entire system begins to fracture.
I will keep pushing for this investigation until the necessary action is taken. I will not back down from the responsibility to represent the people of Arizona with clarity, courage, and conviction. Our elections are too important to be left in doubt. Let’s fix this now before it is too late.
Congressman Abe Hamadeh represents Arizona’s 8th Congressional District.
by Matthew Holloway | Jun 19, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Republican Congressman Abe Hamadeh (AZ-08) has issued a request for a full investigation into credible allegations that election security protocols in Arizona were breached during the 2024 General Election, putting the integrity of the election into question.
In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Congressman Hamadeh requested an investigation to specifically examine the handling of ballots from multiple states throughout the west by Runbeck Election Services.
Hamadeh cited credible reports that large stores of printed blank ballots from several western states were “improperly mixed in a warehouse with returned voted mail ballots that were in the process of being prepared for tabulation.”
He wrote, “This alarming situation raises serious questions about the security and integrity of the election process in Maricopa County and potentially beyond. The comingling of blank ballots with live ballots poses a significant risk to the accuracy and fairness of election results. It is crucial that we have confidence in the integrity of our elections, and any potential mishandling of ballots must be investigated to ensure that the will of the voters is accurately reflected.”
Hamadeh has requested that DOJ investigators determine:
1) The circumstance surrounding the mixing of blank ballots with voted ballots in the Runbeck warehouse.
2) The security measures in place to prevent such incidents and whether they were followed.
3) The potential impact on the accuracy of election results in Maricopa County and any other affected areas.
4) Any other relevant factors that may have comprised the integrity of the 2024 election. The Congressman also pointed to an announcement by FBI Director Kash Patel that the bureau has “turned over documents to Sen. Chuck Grassley involving an intelligence report in which China is alleged to have mass-produced fake U.S. driver’s licenses as part of the CCP’s effort to rig the 2020 election with fake mail-in ballots in favor of President Joe Biden.”
“These include allegations of plants from the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] to manufacture fake driver’s licenses and ship them into the United States for the purpose of facilitating fraudulent mail-in ballots–allegations which, while substantiated, were abruptly recalled and never disclosed to the public,” Patel revealed. “In accordance with Chairman Grassley’s request for documents, I have immediately declassified the material and turned the document over to the Chairman for further review.”
In a statement following his request for an investigation, Hamadeh said, “We have known for years that our election processes in Arizona are flawed and ripe with opportunities for nefarious forces. There appears to be a clear pattern and practice of security breakdowns, system failures, and outright manipulation that must be investigated and remedied.”
He concluded, “Now is the time for our Department of Justice to investigate credible allegations and offer sound recommendations to ensure that the integrity of our elections is restored in full.”
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 AZ Free Enterprise Club | Jun 9, 2025 | Opinion
By the Arizona Free Enterprise Club |
Heading into November’s election, the Democratic Party felt good. They thought they had the presidency locked up. And here locally, they were convinced that they would gain control of Arizona’s legislature after outspending Republicans in every single race.
Then, a massacre happened. President Trump was handed a mandate by the American people, and Democrats actually lost ground in our state legislature. That had to feel like rock bottom for the Left, and yet, as we’ve seen so far in 2025, it wasn’t.
On the heels of their historic defeat, the Arizona Democratic Party (ADP) faced accusations of financial wrongdoing from one of its leaders, just days before its convention and officer elections in January. Then, in April, the ADP saw even more infighting between party leadership and the state’s top Democratic elected officials: Governor Katie Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, Attorney General Kris Mayes, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, and U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego. Now, the latest news shows that, according to its own leadership, the Arizona Democratic Party will actually go broke by the end of this year.
That’s a lot of dysfunction in just a few short months, which is usually the domain for Republicans. But now it appears the Dems have become the standard bearer of political chaos…
>>> CONTINUE READING >>>
by Staff Reporter | Jun 1, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Maricopa County’s homeless population has increased since last year.
The county’s recent Point in Time (PIT) homelessness count reflected a three percent increase in the homeless population since the 2024 count. The number of homeless recorded in Maricopa County during the PIT this year amounted to over 9,700; that number was about 9,400 last year.
Over 80 percent of those within the PIT count were adults over the age of 25. 64 percent of the homeless population were male, 35 percent of the homeless population were female, and one percent of the homeless population self-identified as transgender, non-binary, questioning, culturally specific identity, different identity, or more than one gender. This PIT count marked a departure from the past estimates, in which 50 percent of homeless on average were male.
37 percent of the homeless were white; 27 percent were Black, African American, or African; 24 percent were Hispanic; six percent were multi-racial; four percent were American Indian, Alaska Native, or indigenous; one percent were Asian; less than one percent were Middle Eastern or North African; and less than one percent were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.
The county described the increase as being “on par with recent years.”
This year’s PIT count was one percent higher than the total for 2023.
The unsheltered count increased by 28 percent, and the number of those marked as sheltered decreased by 16 percent. 47 percent of those sheltered were in emergency shelter, transitional housing, or Safe Haven programs.
The county counts those living within the Safe Outdoor Space (SOS) as unsheltered. SOS is a structured camping ground set aside for homeless individuals. SOS provides restrooms, showers, meal service, property storage, and 24/7 security. The city spent over $13 million from Arizona Department of Housing funds to establish the homeless campground.
53 percent of those marked as unsheltered were recorded as living on the streets “or other place not meant for human habitation.”
In a press release on this latest PIT count, Maricopa County blamed the homelessness increase on the reduction in federal funding and the increased cost of living.
“Between 2024 and 2025, federal funding expired for more than 1,000 shelter beds across the region,” stated the county. “The conditions leading to homelessness locally have not improved since last year. These include high rental costs and limited access to supportive services such as long-term care for older adults and mental health services. The landscape for funding remains challenging in light of proposed federal cuts to rental assistance and social service programs.”
The co-chair of the Maricopa Regional Continuum of Care (CoC), Rachel Milne, said more funding would decrease homelessness.
“Communities across our region, including the City of Phoenix, have been working hard to fill the gaps left by the expiration of temporary federal funds this past year,” said Milne. “Those funds did a lot for our community: they helped us design new ways to house and serve our unsheltered neighbors; they provided supportive services for seniors, families, and individuals to help end their homelessness; and they allowed us to increase the number of shelter beds available to provide a safe, indoor space for thousands of people in need. We will continue to seek local, state, and federal funding to ensure that we can help prevent and end homelessness in our community.”
An investigative report released last year revealed the city of Phoenix spent at least $250 million on homelessness since 2021.
Since 1999, CoC has received over $550 million in funding. The county also supports around 32 homeless assistance programs with 11 agencies.
The county conducts PIT homelessness counts on one day every year using volunteers, staff, and outreach workers who carry out interview and observation survey responses.
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