Attorney General Tom Horne has been accused of engaging in a cover-up including attempting to destroy records by a longtime state criminal investigator. Horne has denied the allegations made in a legal claim by Margaret Hinchey.
Allegedly Horne worked with an independent expenditure committee to raise a significant sum for his campaign in 2010 to become the state’s top lawyer. State law prohibits candidates from being involved with the operation of an independent campaign committee.
Hinchey claims that Horne with and through his staff attempted to destroy evidence of potentially criminal behavior by Horne. Hinchey also alleges that Horne favored staff members. She claims that she was retaliated against after she reported the information to the FBI.
Hinchey’s claim states that she has evidence of Horne’s involvement in the illegal activity. Other parties have handed over evidence of potentially illegal behavior to law enforcement officials.
As expected, Horne denies the charges, calling them “politically motivated.” Horne claims that “This is an attack from a partisan Democrat who enjoyed working under Democrats … and resented working for a Republican who was elected by the people of Arizona,” he said Thursday. “It is sad that good and honest people have to be dragged through the mud.”
Horne has in return, attacked Hinchey. He claims in a released statement that “Suzanne Dallimore (sic), acting as attorney for Meg Hinchey, sent a letter to the Chief Deputy demanding that the investigation be cancelled.” Horne characterized the lawyer’s action “in effect” a “cover-up.” Dallimore countered that Horne’s actions are “a terrible abuse of office.”
Essentially the same accusations have been made against Horne by one of his former right hand men. Don Dybus also claimed Horne illegally collaborated with the independent expenditure committee. Dybus alleged that Horne promised a job to the leader of that committee and that Horne helped funnel money from his brother-in-law to the committee.
Evidence of Dybus’s possible involvement in campaign fundraising for Horne has been turned over to authorities, as reported in a earlier article in the AZDI. The Arizona Republic reports that “ some of the FBI’s information has been turned over to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, which has issued grand-jury subpoenas. Neither agency on Thursday would confirm the existence of an investigation.”
Horne had hopes of becoming Governor.