A member of the Arizona House who is charged with bribery and other crimes stemming from an FBI undercover investigation into his earlier conduct as a city council member spent $15,000 of his legislative campaign money on a criminal defense attorney about six weeks before a grand jury indicted him.
The Arizona Capitol Times reports (http://bit.ly/5q8XKc ) that Democratic Rep. Ben Arredondo of Tempe had entered a single $15,000 expense on April 3 for "professional services" and "attorney fees."
Arredondo isn't seeking re-election.
The charges of bribery and other crimes accuse Arredondo of soliciting and accepting sports and charity event tickets from FBI undercover agents and of disclosing confidential information while a Tempe City Council member.
Arredondo has pleaded not guilty.
samkat posted at 6:20 pm on Wed, Jul 4, 2012.
Its time we voters impress the need for stronger ethics requirements on our politicians.
tededitedit posted at 6:26 pm on Wed, Jul 4, 2012.
It's just money given to Mr. Arredondo by wealthy local contributors to be used by him for whatever he wants, so if it's not illegal not much can be done. It's good to see it being pumped into the local economy. His defense is going to cost his friends and family a bundle - no matter what the verdict is.