AZ Political Podcast: Kris Mayes talks handling of ‘pay-to-play’ probe into governor’s office

All I could get incumbent Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) to say about an investigative interview her office is seeking with Gov. Katie Hobbs (D), is that it’s her “hope that we get all the answers we need from the governor’s office.”

The investigation surrounds allegations of a “play-to-play” scheme where Sunshine Residential Homes received a substantial rate increase from the Hobbs administration to operate foster care group homes after Sunshine donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Hobbs’ inaugural fund and the state Democratic Party.

When I asked Mayes, my guest this week on the AZ Political Podcast, about the timeline of her office’s investigation, she told me, “We’re moving (as) deliberately as we can to get it completed.”

“The way I handle all these cases — including the really high-profile ones — is I leave it to the investigators and our prosecutors… to complete the case and to tell me when they’re done. I don’t think it’s my job to rush anything,” Mayes explained.

What if that doesn’t happen before the election? Is she worried that if the results don’t favor Hobbs, she’ll be accused of trying to protect a fellow Democrat?

It doesn’t sound like it: “We have prosecuted Democrats. We have prosecuted Republicans (and) independents. We’re going to call this as we see it. Wherever the facts lead us. That’s always the way I have operated.

“What letter is behind somebody’s name never factors into one of our investigations.”

By the way, Mayes and I talk about topics other than the governor — although, mentioning Hobbs’ unwillingness to debate her Republican opponent, Andy Biggs, prompted Mayes to assure me she will definitely debate her Republican opponent, Warren Petersen (my guest last week on the podcast).

Speaking of Republicans, we also discuss her former status as a Republican and which of her conservative principles migrated over when she switched to Democrat in 2019 and how they’ve colored her work as attorney general.

Also on this AZ Political Podcast:

• Mayes’ latest lawsuit against tariffs, her winning percentage vs. the Trump administration in court and whether she regrets filing any of the more than two dozen lawsuits she’s filed against the president.
• Her office joining a multi-state lawsuit against Facebook and Instagram operator Meta that could result in a more than a $1 trillion judgment.
• If the attorney general’s office should play a role in combatting illegal immigration.
• Why she left a career in journalism to pursue a law degree and enter politics.

That’s a path I definitely don’t see for myself. I enjoy doing the AZ Political Podcast way too much.

The AZ Political Podcast is available at KTAR.com, the KTAR News app and everywhere you get your podcasts.

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