Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs is now facing an investigation into criminal charges of bribery, fraud, conspiracy, and racketeering. Allegations assert she and other Arizona Democrats pocketed almost $400,000 from Sunshine Residential Home, a state contractor, in exchange for millions in taxpayer funded contracts. Essentially what is known in politics as a “pay to play scheme”.
This is yet another story that seemingly got lost in Arizona until it broke on social media. A podcaster that goes by the name “Johnny Midnight” put out a humorous post. In his post he shows The GateWay Pundit’s Jorden Conradson in a video pursuing Governor Hobbs asking her questions about the election of 2022. Hobbs does not acknowledge him until near the end when she says, “Give it a f*cking rest Jorden! I am at the gym.”
Katie Hobbs is now being investigated for bribery, fraud conspiracy and racketeering. The Chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee has informed Maricopa County's investigator that the Auditor General will assist in the investigation.
— Johnny Midnight ⚡️ (@its_The_Dr) February 23, 2025
This comes after The Arizona Republic… pic.twitter.com/s1lhi2BOs8
Alexander Kolodin, or Alex Kolodin is an American lawyer, politician and Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives. In 2023 he was admonished by the State Bar of Arizona and placed on probation for his role in lawsuits challenging the 2020 election.
In a letter to Hobbs written on January 30, 2025 Rep. Alex Kolodin (R) addressed Hobbs under the subject line “Mismanagement of State Funds and Agencies: Pressing Budget Questions”
The letter begins with the usual salutation of “Dear Governor Hobbs” but cuts right to the point.
“Imagine my shock when the Legislature was informed the State has several insolvent agencies and requires a $339 million bailout to close out the current Fiscal Year. Since your liaisons dedicated to briefing members of the Legislature failed to provide detail on how we got here, I am putting my request in writing: Arizonans deserve to know the details.
Why did you mislead the legislature about the spending you intended to approve?
In just two weeks’ time, I’ve learned that the problem has worsened and that your office’s request is now $350 million. It is my understanding that the Department of Developmental Disabilities is short another $12 million. Your office’s presentation to the Legislature stated that this critical program may run out of money in April or May. Which is it? Your AHCCCS department reportedly applied to continue a COVID-era program in Parents as Paid Caregivers after last year’s budget was voted on but you gave no indication that you intended to approve this spending when we were making ‘FY24 budget allocations. Why wasn’t the Legislature consulted on this? What are you estimates to the cost of the program?
Why did your budget team refuse to work with us to budget for a known cost?
Last year your office refused to recognize the State’s liabilities in the Qasimyar litigation. Despite knowing full well that our cost – paid through ADE – was roughly $60 million, your refusal to budget for this last June now represents a completely unbudgeted cost. Now your office acknowledges this payment, blowing a fresh hole in the budget. Why did your office refuse to budget for this known cost?
Who in your orbit is profiting off of Arizona’s children?
Congregate care at your Department of Child Safety is reportedly out of funding due to higher costs. Quite famously, DCS awarded higher salaries to a vendor with connections to your office and your inaugural fund, which remains under investigation by the Attorney General’s and Maricopa County Attorney General’s Office.
Why has your budget director taken the fall?
I have also learned that your budget director resigned yesterday. What are the circumstances surrounding her resignation?
Arizonans deserve answers to my questions. I also request a full accounting for the programs that are apparently broke.”
CONCLUSION:
This is a breaking story so information is sparse but that is not stopping the people of Arizona from chiming in about what they want and what they think should be done on social media platforms.
Investigation and prosecution by the FBI and the DOJ is top of their list.
For now it appears this investigation will be handled internally to Arizona by Rep. Matt Gress of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee and Rachel Mitchell a Maricopa County Attorney.
As one social media poster noted, “This isn’t governance, it’s a criminal empire crumbling under its own greed. Arizona’s been betrayed and it’s time for Hobbs and all involved are held accountable.”
“Controversy Continues To Haunt Hobbs As Budget Director Resigns” – Arizona Independent News Network
Many feel the former budget director to Katie Hobbs, Sarah Brown, should be offered immunity for rolling over on Katie Hobbs to avoid her own prosecution.
Others are speculating about the timing of all of this coming to light along with the 2022 election being suddenly revisited as a criminal act. Some are speculating the DOGE operation in Washington, D.C. now may have caused an interruption of usual Democrat Federal funds which may have created a domino effect for Arizona Governor Hobbs.
Some have even accused Hobbs of being in bed with the Mexican cartels due to her refusal to both recognize the problem they are creating in Arizona and her apparent unwillingness to do anything about it.
Like all Democrat State Governors though, she is good at attacking Republican President Donald J. Trump whether her partisan unhinged attacks make any kind of logical sense or not.
© 2025 by Mark S. Schwendau
