Attorney General Kris Mayes has concluded her criminal investigation of Gov. Katie Hobbs and a donor with a state contract, finding no evidence of a quid pro quo to support a charge of bribery.
The investigation lasted over two years and has become a key issue in Hobbs' 2026 reelection campaign. In addition to announcing the findings, the investigation unearthed publicly for the first time additional financial backing the donor gave to Hobbs.
All told, between 2022 and 2024, the contractor Sunshine Residential Homes contributed at least $550,000 to Hobbs' political groups or the Arizona Democratic Party supporting her campaign. The contributions were made before and after Hobbs' term in office, and as the company was on a state contract and negotiating
for higher pay. Sunshine Residential has for decades operated group homes housing children for the state Department of Child Safety.
Some of its contributions went to a secretive legal defense fund controlled by Hobbs' campaign that paid for her fees in lawsuits brought by GOP candidate Kari Lake, whom Hobbs narrowly defeated in the 2022 race for the Governor's Office.
Mayes' office released several documents at the same time it announced the investigation's findings.
Those include a seven-page memo summarizing the legal analysis and findings written by Mayes' Criminal Division Chief Nick Klingerman, as well as letters from Hobbs' government and campaign attorneys. Those letters were submitted after Hobbs declined to be interviewed by Mayes' team, an interview Mayes said in April was an appropriate part of a thorough and complete investigation.
Read the documents below.
Reach reporter Stacey Barchenger at stacey.barchenger@arizonarepublic.com or 480-416-5669.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Read Kris Mayes' findings in probe of Gov. Katie Hobbs
