Grand Canyon Times

A trio of Republican officials are calling for an investigation into what they allege is a “pay-to-play” arrangement between Sunshine Residential Homes and Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, and one is requesting that Attorney General Kris Mayes recuse herself from any such investigation.

After a June 5 story in The Arizona Republic detailed contracts, political connections and financial agreements between the group home provider and Hobbs – one which the health care company benefited from state-authorized rate increases where its competitors did not – GOP officials say the connection warrants further scrutiny and investigation.

Rep. Matt Gress (R-AZ-4), Chairman of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, authored a letter to Maricopa County District Attorney Rachel Mitchell on June 6, explaining that the Auditor General’s Office is prepared to join forces with Mitchell on any subsequent probe into these matters.

“Given Sunshine’s average performance and involvement in past controversies, including the death of 9-year-old Jakob Blodgett, I was shocked to learn in the [Arizona Republic] article that the Department of Child Safety increased Sunshine’s rates by 60%. No other group home provider has received a rate increase during Hobbs’ tenure despite requests from providers. None is paid as much per day than Sunshine. Yesterday, [Arizona State] Senator T.J. Shope sent you a letter outlining five potential violations of state law, including bribery, fraud, improper procurement, conflicts of interest and illegal expenditure of state monies,” Gress said.

“In my capacity as chairman of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, I want you to know that the Auditor General’s Office stands ready to partner with you in getting the facts about this troubling matter. Make no mistake, we will allocate the resources the Auditor General needs to help restore what appears to be a major breach of trust in our government. It’s unfortunate that your office’s time and resources must be spent looking into these allegations, but they are serious and warrant a thorough investigation.”

Gress was seconded by Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee, who also called upon Mitchell to look into the connections between Sunshine Residential Homes and Hobbs.

“As the Treasurer of Arizona, I am responsible for overseeing, safekeeping, and managing the State of Arizona’s securities and investments, which are duties I take seriously. Arizona taxpayers need financial accountability and deserve to know how their money is being spent. Providing state dollars to political donors is a grave misuse of public funds. ‘Pay to play’ and special favors have no place in state government,” Yee stated.

Yee also voiced her opposition to Mayes’ contention that the state Attorney General’s Office has sole jurisdiction over an investigation into the events.

“The Attorney General wrongfully asserted that she has singular control over any investigation. I have requested a separate investigation to be conducted by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has separate jurisdiction in this matter and the current investigation by the Attorney General’s Office raises concerns of potential ethical conflicts of interest in representing state agencies and officials involved in the alleged scheme,” Yee added.

Rep. David Livingston (R-AZ-28), Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, requested that Mayes recuse herself from the conducting of any investigation, due to what he called “a clear conflict of interest” between Mayes and Hobbs.

“In light of your recent actions and public statements misrepresenting Arizona law, I feel compelled to write this letter. I demand that you immediately recuse yourself from investigating the pay-to-play scandal, which involves substantial donations to both the Arizona Democratic Party and Gov. Hobbs’ inaugural fund and potentially implicates the ADP, Gov. Hobbs, Sunshine Residential Homes, and/or the Arizona Department of Child Safety. Your conflict of interest and mishandling of my [prior] complaint warrants your recusal from investigating the pay-to-play scandal because it likewise stems from Gov. Hobbs’ unprecedented inaugural fundraising and political donations to the ADP. You have already proven that you will shield both the Democrat Governor and your own party from any liability,” Livingston said, in part.

“If you dislike Arizona’s laws or the limits of your authority imposed by those laws, you are welcome to advocate for statutory changes through the legislative process. What you may not do, however, is make false statements about Arizona law to micromanage the conduct of other elected officials and public servants or prevent them from exercising their own powers and duties. The people of Arizona deserve better from their chief legal officer. For all of these reasons, it is obviously in the best interest of the state that an unbiased, conflict-free prosecutor with jurisdiction proceed with a full, fair, and independent investigation of these serious allegations, in coordination with our Auditor General. Please confirm that you will relinquish your investigation and recuse yourself so that County Attorney Mitchell and the Auditor General can do their jobs without interference or delay.”