The Arizona Attorney General’s Office found that the Republican lawmaker did not violate campaign finance laws by failing to report donations from political groups.
After a months-long investigation, the office found that Rep. Justin Heap (R-Mesa) made a total of five contributions to his legislative campaign from political action committees in his 2023 campaign finance report. The company found that it did not violate the law by failing to report the $2,500.
The investigation stems from a complaint filed by Democratic strategist Tony Kani, who in February asked the Secretary of State’s office to investigate whether the disclosure issue violated campaign finance laws. .
The Secretary of State’s Office said Heap violated the law by failing to report donations listed in reports filed by PACs associated with mining company Freeport-McMoRan, the Arizona Association of Realtors, the Arizona Fraternal Order of Knights and APS. It was determined that there were reasonable grounds to believe that. The parent company is Pinnacle West Capital Corporation.
At the time, Heap claimed he had not received any donations from the PAC and that the checks had been destroyed or returned.
The attorney general’s office confirmed that Heap did not receive any donations.
“Importantly, beyond the information provided by Mr. Heap, I have determined through my own investigation that each of the PACs involved in this matter is now in fact amending their campaign finance reports to ensure that Heap for House “Our findings reflect a failure to accept each donation,” according to the letter signed by Assistant Attorney General Clinten Garrett.
Garrett noted that Heap’s “lack of cooperation has unnecessarily prolonged this investigation and disposition, wasting valuable government time and resources in the process,” but that Heap has not broken any laws. With that conclusion, the investigation was discontinued.
Kani was pointing to a campaign finance guide for candidates published by the Secretary of State. Candidates must report receiving the check “on the date the committee knowingly obtained the donation,” or the date listed on the check, according to the guide.
This guide also provides methods candidates can use to report refunded donations.
But Garrett cited another part of the guide that defines donations as “all sources of funds that flow into a candidate’s campaign finance account.”
“Given the strong evidence that Mr. Heap did not deposit the checks at issue here, we accept Mr. Heap’s defense that he did not receive reportable contributions,” Garrett said. wrote.
In response to the decision, Heap reiterated that he “refuses to accept money from lobbyists.”
“Given that this entire complaint filed by a paid Democratic operative was concocted for the sole purpose of allowing the Secretary of State and Attorney General to: No wonder they concluded that there were no violations and subsequently closed the partisan investigation.” Weaponizing their office against me to improperly influence the election of Maricopa County Recorder. ” Heap said in a statement.
To discuss the longtime Arizona lawmaker’s upcoming retirement and Arizona’s ties to the lawsuit against former President Trump, the show will be joined by former state schools superintendent Jaime Morella and former Congressional staffer Roy Herrera. We spoke to Mr.
The Arizona Supreme Court ruled Friday that Arizonans can vote on a voting measure that would eliminate partisan primaries in the state.
Residents of Phoenix City Council District 7 will vote in two elections: a special vacancy election to elect a council member to serve a term through April 2025, and a regular election to elect a council member to serve a four-year term beginning in April 2025. Masu. I am running for both elections.
Betty Guardado and JJ Martinez are running for Phoenix City Council District 5. The boundaries of this Phoenix neighborhood are approximately 19th Street to 43rd Street from Northern Avenue to Camelback Road, and 43rd Street to 99th Street from Camelback Road to McDowell Road.
Aienza Millan and Debra Stark are running for Phoenix City Council District 3. The boundary is approximately from Bell Road south to Dunlap Avenue and from Interstate 17 west to State Route 51.
