Arizona’s Republican state Attorney General Tom Horne appears to be under state and federal investigation for allegedly violating some of Arizona’s civil laws pertaining to campaign financing.  Both Maricopa County and the FBI have seemingly refused to confirm the existence of any investigation of Horne.

If the denials are valid, if the only credible allegation of wrongdoing is a state civil matter, then why is the FBI surveilling a state attorney general?

Here is the complaint which apparently caused the Maricopa County Prosecuting Attorney and the FBI to initiate whatever non-investigation they’re not conducting.  The underlying reason for the FBI involvement may be revealed in it as well as in this Arizona Republic newspaper article.

Regardless of the outcome, the Arizona Republic reported one particular allegation that caught my eye:

A political employee who is under investigation in connection with improper campaign activities was allowed to perform private real-estate work on government time by Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne.

The essence of the newspaper’s story is that AG Horne hired Winn, a former employee of his political campaign, as a state employee after Horne was elected but allowed her (Winn) to continue to conduct her private real estate business on government time.

Imagine that!  An employee on the public payroll allegedly using public resources to further a personal business for personal gain.  Boy, I’m sure glad that couldn’t happen in Coeur d’Alene.