The Clean Elections Commission’s investigation into Sarah Beattie’s allegations against Horne came to an end today as commissioners approved a settlement with the outgoing AG. Horne immediately kept his end of the bargain by paying a $10,000 fine.

Minutes before the meeting to discuss Clean Election director Tom Collins’ recommendation to fully investigate Forese and Little, their attorney, Lee Miller, proposed a settlement that would halt the investigation if each pays a $1,000 fine.

A Maricopa County Superior Court judge heard arguments in a case that will not only determine whether the Citizens Clean Elections Commission can investigate Attorney General Tom Horne, but whether it will be able to investigate any candidates who aren’t part of Arizona’s public campaign funding system.

Both sides claimed victory as a federal judge dismissed the bulk of Margaret “Meg” Hinchey’s retaliation lawsuit against Attorney General Tom Horne and a top aide, but allowed the case to proceed on several allegations.

A judge has thrown out a lawsuit filed by three Phoenix residents accusing City Councilman Sal DiCiccio of campaign-finance violations related to his creation of a non-profit corporation.

Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk has agreed to pursue campaign finance allegations against Attorney General Tom Horne and a top aide.

Arizona Solicitor General Robert Ellman, who reports directly to Horne, stated in a June 27 letter to Polk that he was referring the case to her office to avoid a conflict of interest in the case.

A Maricopa County Superior Court judge expressed skepticism over the county attorney’s authority to pursue alleged campaign finance violations by Attorney General Tom Horne, putting the future of the case in question as the state’s top law enforcement officer and a key aide prepare to fight the charges in court.

Democrat Felecia Rotellini, who narrowly lost the attorney general’s race in 2010, is coming back for another run at the job, setting up a potential rematch with Tom Horne.

Rotellini filed a campaign committee to run for attorney general in 2014 Monday. In 2010, she lost by 3.8 percentage points to Horne, making her the most successful statewide Democratic candidate in a banner Republican year that saw every other statewide Democrat lose by double digits.

Attorney General Tom Horne is asking a federal judge to take over a lawsuit by an employee who claims he retaliated against her for reporting alleged campaign finance violations to the FBI.

As the FBI ramped up its investigation into Tom Horne last year, Secretary of State Ken Bennett scrambled to get legislation passed that would allow him to bypass the Attorney General’s Office and seek outside legal counsel.