AG Brnovich investigates Gov. Ducey over illegal electioneering claims

PHOENIX — Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich has opened an investigation into whether Gov. Doug Ducey violated state law while on a call with business leaders.

Lawyers for the Invest in Education group filed a complaint with the Attorney General claiming the governor used public resources to advocate against Proposition 208 while on a conference call with small business leaders.

Brnovich’s office confirmed that the AG is actively investigating the governor but could not provide comment on the investigation.

According to a report by the Arizona Capitol Times, the governor urged business owners not to vote for the initiative, calling it “a small business killer.”

Arizona Revised Statues Title 16-192 states that any public authority cannot “spend or use public resources to influence an election.”

Invest in Education alleges that because Ducey made the call from his office, he used public resources funded by Arizona taxpayers to engage in electioneering and violated the law.

“This is a 100% politically-motivated complaint from a political campaign,” a spokesperson from the governor’s office said in a statement to KTAR News 92.3 FM. “It is without merit. The governor was asked questions, and he answered them.”

Other state employees who were also reportedly on the call include Deputy Chief of Staff Gretchen Conger, Director of the Arizona Department of Health Services Dr. Cara Christ, CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority Sandra Watson and Director of the Arizona Department of Tourism Debbie Johnson.

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