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Ethics committee might investigate Navarrete
State Sen. Tony Navarrete, who has yet to resign several days after he was charged with multiple felony child sex crimes, now faces a potential Senate ethics investigation and additional allegations of sexual harassment.
2013: A year of legal woes for Arizona politicos
The early months of 2013 offered some respite from the previous calendar year, when Arizona politicians were bogged down by investigations and indictments.
Judge overturns most counts in $128,000 fraud case against former legislative staffer
A federal judge today overturned jury convictions on eight of nine counts of wire fraud for a former legislative staffer who had admitted in court that he took about $128,000 in campaign funds from former Speaker Jim Weiers.
Authorities resolve unanswered question in Arredondo case
Ever since former Rep. Ben Arredondo was indicted in May in a bribery sting, the question of what prompted the FBI to investigate him had been left unanswered by the federal agency or the Department of Justice.
District Court judge sentences Arredondo to probation
Former Democratic lawmaker Ben Arredondo walked out of court Wednesday effectively a free man, having convinced a federal judge his lifetime of community service and failing mental and physical health justify no time behind bars.
Judge Frederick Martone, of U.S. District Court in Phoenix, placed Arredondo on three years of probation, including 18 months of house arrest, and ordered him t[...]
Arredondo to be sentenced for fraud convictions
A former Arizona legislator will be sentenced Wednesday for his convictions on charges that he solicited and accepted a bribe while he was a Tempe city councilman and misled donors about a scholarship fund to benefit his relatives.
Using good for ill… twice
A federal prosecutor is trying to convince US District Court Judge Frank Martone that Arredondo’s history of charitable deeds and community service is not worthy of leniency during his Jan. 23 sentencing for his guilty pleas to counts of honest services mail fraud and mail fraud.
Arredondo argues for lighter punishment
Former Rep. Ben Arredondo's attorney, Lee Stein, has filed a plea asking that the federal government’s use of “inflated” ticket prices would unfairly increase the severity of his bribery sentence. Stein argued that prosecutors should be using face value and season ticket values rather than what the FBI paid when they purchased the tickets from scalpers.
Who’s hot, who’s not: A year of ups and downs for Arizona politicos
As 2012 comes to a close, some Arizona politicos have reached new heights of prominence and power. Others saw once-promising careers hit the wall.
Jeff Flake and Kyrsten Sinema gained influence and stature in the nation’s capital, while Andy Biggs reached the pinnacle of power in the Arizona Senate.
Meanwhile, former Senate President Russell Pearce and his successor, Sen. S[...]
Supervisors decide not to replace Arredondo
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has decided not to appoint a temporary replacement for former Rep. Ben Arredondo, who resigned on Oct. 9 after pleading guilty to federal criminal charges.
Names emerging for Arredondo replacement
Tempe Democrats will choose three possible replacements Thursday for state Rep. Ben Arredondo, who resigned last week after pleading guilty to two felony counts of fraud stemming from an FBI investigation.
Will scandals that forced 4 lawmakers from office influence voters?
Not since the AzScam scandal in 1991 have so many Arizona lawmakers left office amid criminal allegations in a single year.
The current scandals could cast a cloud over the state’s general election. Lawmakers who leave in disgrace tend to discourage cynical voters from going to the polls, pollsters and players from the AzScam bribery scandal said.
