AZ Gov. Katie Hobbs Is Under Criminal Investigation Over Alleged ‘Pay-For-Play’ Scheme

[240B]

Trending Politics
Cullen McCue
June 6, 2024

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes’ office is launching a criminal investigation into political donations made by a state contractor with ties to Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, a Democrat who narrowly defeated GOP challenger Kari Lake in 2022.

According to a report from Arizona Central, a home operator that works with the Arizona Department of Child Safety has received a massive boost in state funding while pay increases to other providers have been denied. Over the course of the past year, the Arizona Department of Child Safety has approved what amounts to a 60 percent increase in the rate that Sunshine Residential Homes Inc. charges to care for a child for a day.

According to the report from Arizona Central, this amounts to “potentially millions of dollars more going to the company at taxpayers’ expense.” The company’s CEO, Simon Kottoor, was on Hobbs’ inaugural committee, while Hobbs praised the company while campaigning for governor.

(more)
https://trendingpoliticsnews.com/just-in-state-contractor-tied-katie-hobbs-investigation-cmc/

[HikerGuy83]

Color me shocked.....seriously. 

Maynes going after Hobbs.

Maybe I was wrong about her.

[mountaineer]

UPDATE

... A foster-care group home operator — Sunshine Residential Homes — quietly pumped $400,000 into:

🔹 Hobbs’ campaign
🔹 Her inauguration fund
🔹 The Arizona Democratic Party

And right after the cash hit?

🔥 Hobbs’ administration approved a massive 60% rate hike for Sunshine — the ONLY provider to get such a deal.

Payments jumped from $195 → $234 per child, per day, unlocking millions in taxpayer dollars for one politically connected company. They even expanded Sunshine’s contract from 280 kids to 322 kids.

The timeline is devastating:

• Sunshine drops $200K during Hobbs’ campaign
• State denies their rate hike
• Sunshine then donates $100K to Hobbs’ inauguration
• Suddenly Hobbs approves the rate hike ...

https://twitter.com/pdxmoderate/status/2003283327139348535

[mountaineer]

Hobbs Administration Faces Scrutiny After New “Pay-To-Play” Allegations
November 17, 2025
By Jonathan Eberle

Newly surfaced documents and internal communications are raising new questions about political influence inside the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS), prompting calls for accountability from legislative leaders. Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope is urging state and county prosecutors to provide an immediate update on whether investigations into the matter remain active.

The controversy centers on Sunshine Residential Homes, a group home provider that recently received a 30% rate increase from DCS. The company has been a significant donor to Governor Katie Hobbs and multiple Democratic political groups—connections that agency employees reportedly flagged as a source of concern.

According to internal messages and financial records reviewed by lawmakers, DCS staff expressed discomfort with the approval process for the rate hike. Employees referenced Sunshine Residential’s political ties to the Governor and suggested the situation placed agency leaders in an “uncomfortable position,” particularly after the provider allegedly pressured the state by threatening to shift services to the federal system unless the increase was approved. ...

https://azfreenews.com/2025/11/hobbs-administration-faces-scrutiny-after-new-pay-to-play-allegations/

[Cyber Liberty]

I'm sure AZ's Attorney General Chris Mayes (D) will get right on it.   

[Bigun]

I'm sure AZ's Attorney General Chris Mayes (D) will get right on it.   

You betcha!