Brnovich is the subject of at least 18 complaints with the State Bar of Arizona, which licenses attorneys and handles discipline matters, stemming from Mayes’ release last month of a trio of reports and memos that came from Brnovich’s time in office.|| Getty
By Stacey Barchenger || Arizona Republic
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes will not take legal action against her Republican predecessor Mark Brnovich for withholding his staff’s findings that no fraud occurred in the 2020 election.
In an exclusive interview with The Arizona Republic, the Democrat said other entities should pursue any possible punishments for Brnovich.
“I don’t think it’s my place to take any steps against my predecessor,” Mayes said. “I think it should be left to others, including the State Bar, to address this.”
Brnovich is the subject of at least 18 complaints with the State Bar of Arizona, which licenses attorneys and handles discipline matters, stemming from Mayes’ release last month of a trio of reports and memos that came from Brnovich’s time in office.
Those documents showed that even as the state’s attorneys found no merit to claims of fraud, Brnovich cast doubt on aspects of the election.
One complaint was filed by Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who frequently sparred with Brnovich when she was Secretary of State, alleging “likely unethical conduct” by Brnovich that “is harmful to our democracy, our state and the legal profession itself.” Brnovich has disputed Hobbs’ complaint.
Mayes, who was elected in November in one of the closest races in state history, said Tuesday she did not want to look backward.
Attorney General Kris Mayes puts on her jacket ford an interview on March 14, 2023, in her office at 2005 N. Central Ave., in Phoenix.
“Obviously, plenty of folks have made complaints about it to the State Bar of Arizona, and I’ll leave it at that,” Mayes said. “You can get really bogged down in focusing on the past. We need to focus now on the future. We need to turn the page and do good work for the people of Arizona.”
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