A former paralegal with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office launched a symbolic petition urging a recall of Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. Michael Blumen, who worked at the office for 16 years, said under her leadership, “the integrity of this office is under threat” due to the “political retaliation and overreach.”
“Rachel Mitchell has consistently overstepped her authority, meddling in election fraud investigations and obstructing the county recorder from fulfilling his duties,” Blumen asserted. Mitchell is under fire for appearing to side with the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors (MCBOS) in its legal feud with Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap. The MCBOS took away parts of Heap’s office after he was elected but before he took office, and in April, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Scott Blaney ordered them to return the functions to Heap.
The MCBOS refused to comply, prompting Blaney to contemplate fining them $100,000 per day. Mitchell held a meeting with the MCBOS without Heap present, causing his attorney to call for her to recuse herself over bias. Blaney stated during a recent hearing that Mitchell may need to recuse herself.
Mitchell tried to stop Heap from hiring America First Legal (AFL) as his legal counsel in the feud. Blaney ruled in January that Mitchell could not stop Heap from hiring AFL. However, Mitchell has continued to challenge Blaney’s ruling.
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