Some are calling it a “political stunt,” and others are asking what took so long in response to a report by the Arizona House Ad Hoc Committee on Executive Oversight (CEO), finding that Attorney General Kris Mayes has abused power, neglected legal duties, and committed malfeasance in office.
The Committee released its comprehensive investigative report to Speaker Ben Toma on Tuesday, who then distributed it on Wednesday to all House members for their consideration.
The Committee’s 102-page report includes the following claims:
- Attorney General Mayes unjustifiably threatened the Mohave County Board of Supervisors with personal criminal and civil penalties if they voted against her wishes.
- Attorney General Mayes abused the legal system to attack her political opponents.
- Attorney General Mayes abused her power and authority under Arizona’s Consumer Fraud Act by issuing a consumer alert filled with deception, fraud, and misrepresentations about organizations providing health care service to women.
- Attorney General Mayes has misused public resources and town halls to threaten public nuisance lawsuits against farmers and advocate for ballot measures relating to groundwater use.
- Attorney General Mayes refused to defend state laws when challenged in court, including Arizona’s Save Women’s Sports Act.
- Attorney General Mayes hindered the Committee’s work by failing to timely produce records and information and refusing to explain her actions to the Committee.
In her letter to the House Speaker, Chairwoman Representative Jacqueline Parker says that the Committee concludes that Attorney General Mayes has “committed impeachable offenses.”
As a result, the Committee is recommending the House adopt a resolution impeaching Mayes for malfeasance in office – defined under Arizona law as “doing that which an officer has no authority to do, and is positively wrong or unlawful.”
Parker called on the House to “carefully scrutinize all appropriations made to the Attorney General’s Office, continue to exercise oversight over Attorney General Mayes’ abuses of office, and consider legislation in the next legislative session to strengthen and clarify Arizona laws aimed at preventing further weaponization of the Attorney General’s Office.”
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“The people of Arizona deserve better from the state’s chief legal officer,” said CEO Chairwoman Parker. “I am deeply frustrated and disappointed by Attorney General Mayes’ lack of cooperation with our requests for more information and records concerning the many allegations that came to the Committee’s attention. I am also disappointed that none of my Democratic colleagues decided to participate whatsoever or learn about the proper role of the Attorney General under our state constitution. Despite the Attorney General’s lack of transparency with the Committee, we have seen and heard enough. I hope all House members will thoroughly review the Committee’s report and findings and agree to impeach Attorney General Mayes and consider other measures outlined in our report to prevent future weaponization of the AG’s office.”