Weekend wrap-up: The biggest Arizona-related stories
Mar 4, 2018, 6:07 PM | Updated: 8:11 pm
This image released by ABC shows, Cindy McCain, left, appearing with her daughter, co-host Meghan McCain, during a broadcast for "The View," on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018, in New York. Meghan McCain said that President Trump’s reference at a conservative conference last week to her father’s vote on a health care bill was ‘incredibly hurtful.’ She said she was naive to believe, after talking to president last year, that attacks on her father would end. (Lou Rocco/ABC via AP)
(Lou Rocco/ABC via AP)
PHOENIX — It was a busy weekend for the state of Arizona, which found itself heavily in the mix of national political headlines on Saturday and Sunday.
Here are some of the biggest Arizona-related stories from this past weekend.
Meghan McCain asks CPAC chairman for respect after father booed
At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February, President Donald Trump didn’t name Arizona Sen. John McCain but did reference McCain’s vote on a GOP health care plan that didn’t pass.
It garnered boos from the crowd, and following Trumps remarks, CPAC head Matt Schlapp via Twitter issued his support for the jeers pointed at McCain.
The senator’s daughter, Meghan McCain, hasn’t forgotten.
On her TV show “The View,” she confronted Schlapp Friday about his treatment of John McCain, who is currently battling an aggressive brain cancer.
“Why at this moment, when he’s suffering from the worst brain cancer that exists and going through chemo, why there can’t be a modicum of respect for my family at this moment from CPAC?” Meghan McCain asked.
Schlapp expressed his respect for John McCain on the show.
“Your father is a national hero, he has served his country, he has fought for his life before and he is fighting for his life now and I think we all respect that,” Schlapp replied.
Parents, advocates rally after Queen Creek High loses five to suicide
About 100 parents and advocates gathered in front of Queen Creek High School on Friday morning holding signs of support following the fifth student suicide at the school since May.
Project Connect Four, a group started by Phoenix-area mothers concerned about rising suicide rates, hosted the event.
“We came out here … to show these kids that there are people out here who care about them and what’s happening,” said Christina Nguyen, president of Project Connect Four.
Suicides among teens and young adults have risen by about 3 percent since 2000, according to the American Society for Suicide Prevention.
Governor considers clemency for officer in fatal shooting
The governor is considering clemency for a former Phoenix police officer convicted in a fatal on-duty shooting in 2010.
The Arizona Board of Executive Clemency recommended in December that the governor reduce Richard Chrisman’s sentence to time served, the Arizona Capitol Times reported.
Chrisman was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2013 after he was convicted of manslaughter and aggravated assault in the death of 29-year-old Daniel Rodriguez.
Gov. Doug Ducey (R-Ariz.) has until March 27 to decide whether to grant the clemency request. Ducey spokesman Patrick Ptak said in an email Friday that the request is being carefully reviewed.
Arizonan could replace Hope Hicks as Trump’s communications director
Stephanie Grisham, a former spokesperson for the Arizona House who worked on Trump’s presidential campaign, was mentioned by Business Insider as a potential replacement for White House communications director Hope Hicks, who resigned from her post this past week.
Grisham has been working as first lady Melania Trump’s communications director since March.
“She brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the job, and will be an incredible asset to my office as we build out our agenda, preserve our country’s rich traditions and serve the American people,” Melanie Trump said in a statement at the time to CNN.
The New York Times reported Grisham is one of few remaining 2016 campaign employees who Trump still feels “fondly” toward.
GOP primary winner faces 2nd federal election law complaint
A second complaint alleging federal campaign finance law violations has been filed against the winner of last week’s special Republican primary election to replace former U.S. Rep. Trent Franks.
The complaint against former state Sen. Debbie Lesko was filed with the Federal Election Commission on Thursday by the Campaign Legal Center, a Washington-D.C.-based group that supports strong enforcement of the finance laws.
It alleges that her transfer of $50,000 from her state campaign to an independent group that spent nearly all the cash backing her congressional run was illegal.
Brendan Fischer, the Campaign Legal Center’s director of federal and FEC reform director, called the transfer a violation of the bar on state campaign funds being used to support a federal election effort and “a form of political money laundering that the FEC must address.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report
