By Yvonne Wingett Sanchez | The Arizona Republic
The State Bar of Arizona has dismissed a second charge against Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne that stemmed from a 14-month investigation by the FBI and county authorities into alleged campaign-finance violations.
The Bar, which licenses and regulates attorneys, attempted to determine whether Horne violated ethical rules when he left the scene of a March 2012 fender-bender without leaving a note. In May, Horne pled to a Class 3 misdemeanor tied to the accident and has since paid a fine.
Chief Bar Counsel Maret Vessella notified Horne’s attorney of the dismissal in a July 9 letter, which was obtained Wednesday by The Arizona Republic. Vessella wrote that Horne’s conduct did not provide the basis to conclude he “engaged in a criminal act reflecting adversely on his honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer.”
“Nonetheless, the State Bar instructs lawyers to be mindful that even though their conduct in this regard may not result in a sanction, it often reflects poorly on the profession and serves to erode public trust that lawyers are held accountable for their actions,” Vessella wrote.
